I find myself
In this quiet space
Against soft pillow
I rest my face
And thoughts that swirl
Like silent storm
Bundled up
In blanket warm
The ebb and flow
Of inner tide
Lying still
This endless ride
And I the rider
Changed by day
I nightly find
The price I pay
The dark without
And in my mind
A wordless shout
A thought unkind
And into sleep I finally drift
Till in my dreams I find a rift
Then eyes wide open
I feel the fear
The death that’s creeping
Ever near
And up I sit
My back held straight
“I’m not ready—
Please, just wait.”
In and out
I hear my breath
And know for now
I’ve chased off death
Then back to sleep
My eyes shut tight
I make it through another night
Over again
This game we play
Both of us knowing
He’ll win someday
But not tonight
And not tomorrow
Or the day after that
Still more time I borrow
I borrow more time
In this quiet space
Against soft pillow I rest my face
And thoughts that swirl
Under blanket warm
Rage inside
Like silent storm

(C) 2021 Barbara Gray – no content may be used or reproduced without permission of the author.