To The Sleepless Nights by The Dreaded Door

By Aaileen Sarwar Syed

Sleepless I stared at me ceiling,

One sheep, Two sheep, I remember my mum teaching.

Thousand and one sheep I counted, and stopped.

Stupid

I looked at my watch, 1.30 it chimed

Good children sleep by 9, I remember my mother teaching.

As another minute ticked in the clock, an unknown tear made its way

Dramatic

As one tear follows another, I was on a total outbreak in this unholy hour of the night!

You mustn't cry dear, I remember my mother saying.

I ran to the sink to splash these meaningless tears away

Dumb

I looked into the sky and ask why?

I don't see a light, maybe my eyes were a little too swollen

Ugly

I hear a door open,

It's the dreaded door

Scared

I ran into my bed.

Hiding beneath the plush blankets, as if it were my savior.

Kiddish

One sheep, two sheep I began.

Because that's what I remember my mum teaching.

By Aaileen Sarwar Syed