the nod [2010]

the rabbits are here     with me

  as I pass     another night

in front of this computer

bogged down     (warm and moist)

  in a process

  which is     slow

Erika is     at work    (amongst other things)

  for the third straight night

and the apartment is     starkly quiet

on occasion

  the beagle downstairs

  has begun to     howl

  (seemingly at random)

  breaking     the numbing routine

                                   (someone is snoring)

however (he has retired)

  as the clock     and I     tick

  into the early morning

I'm all but     immersed     in sleepy silence

and I'm growing     growing     increasingly tired

I've begun to     nod off

  off

(. . .) 

if not for the tickle

  of whiskers     at my ankles

  I'd probably be asleep
                         right now

perhaps     I should consider

  going to bed
          for     a few hours

before I leave     to retrieve Erika     at 6:30?

or

          maybe I should     prepare myself

  a hot cup of Darjeeling
                         to stimulate     the mind?

what     to do?

                         do     do     do

(. . .)

I think I'm going to     opt

  for the sleep

(. . .)

  the only problem:
                                                                             Beauregard has decided

he's going to bite     pull     and eat

the carpet

(my mind is carpet     is not)
                                                                             and that's     no good
                                                                             for anyone involved

                                   (someone else     is also     snoring)

oh well

  I guess it's just 

  the nod 

  for me

and     this poetry 

  poetry

(. . .)