Sweet, warm dark of night br pull me in and hold me tight. br Help me fight this awful scourge br of sleeplessness, and the urge br to give up, get out bed, br to live the life of one Dead. br br My mind and mouth are disconnected br as is my soul, it seems infected br with some loopy, crazened curse br from which I cannot wrangle verse br of any meaning or consequence, br much less poetic 'brilliance'... br br Sing-song, sing-song - that manic rhythm br drives my brain, my hand, my very innards. br In fact, this morning I awoke br with these first lines like a choke- br hold on my mind - after just four hours br of nothing like sleep, too weak to shower. br br At least I rested, this much is true; br my eyes no more bear reddish hue. br Still, I'm not sure which foot is right br and which is wrong, if it's day or if it's night. br Did I just put the cat in the sink - br the dishes out the door, I think? br br (But I don't own a cat, so how -? br No, I won't worry about that now...) br br My life's a shambles, the house in ruins, br I cannot count from one to two! br Sweet relief, where have you gone? ... br Please hold me, Sleep, sing me a song, br a lullaby of soothing rhyme br to save me from committing crime. br br (2.20.