Tired

The house lies bare—

a mess not far off from my mind.

Hair still heavy with the weight

of wet tears from the shower.

The elastic of panties clings softly to me,

and the baggy T-shirt sways with my steps.

My shoulders ache—

from the weight they carry,

or the days they couldn’t.

The lights are out.

Crickets jeer like voices outside myself,

mocking the responsibilities I bear

yet falter to fulfill 

I lay bare in this dark room,

on a bed that has known

the full truth of my sleepless nights.

I stuffed these ears of mine with earphone and turned up the volume, 

to defen the thoughts and voices 

that speak no good to me.

Only mellow songs broke through.

They melt the ice

that’s lingered far too long.

My legs feel the quite warmth 

of each other's soft embrace. 

Sliding over each other with solace, 

While the shawl's threads 

caress my skin with patient hush.

My tired eyes stare upward

at the fan,

still turning.

Still doing its job.

Endlessly.

Tirelessly.

Not long after,

battling with my body,

I let sleep win.

It too longed to heal me,

as these dark songs

soothed my spinning mind.

A.V