I can no longer sleep without white noise.
Crashing waves, fingers tapping, birds babbling.
The source doesn’t matter much but
Silence is maddening, inviting unwelcome thoughts
irrational fears, pondering if I’ll wake up.
Soft sounds are distracting, a security
somehow keeping me safe from immobility.
That demon in the corner won’t come near
with someone else already whispering in my ear.
Who knew headphones could form a forcefield?
A technological tool for insomniacs
Who still need to be tucked into bed
when too many “what if’s” are in your head.
And yes, it may give way to eccentric dreams
but that’s left for the day to contemplate
and a favorable alternative to night terror screams.
