The Benefits of Insomnia

Failing to Sleep

In the dark
I am already thinking
of the first gray light
perceived through half
opened eyes wondering
which bird will be
singing first perhaps
a Carolina wren calling
teakettle teakettle then tiring
of that and demanding kettletea
or possibly a robin tolling
the morning with precise notes
or maybe that teasing
familiar complex melody—
cardinal?—and then
I’m thinking about God
or some frustrating
conversation and the next
thing I know it is morning
and I must have slept
and the gray light
is turning pink and
birds are singing.

Many thanks to Naomi for her very insightful and helpful comments on an earlier draft of this poem.