on a wing & a prayer
I lie in bed with eyelids closed
my mind racing
refusing to dream
—and I tell myself
I need rest
and a clear mind
come six hours from now
the time of day
seems to have escaped me
but I’m sure at least
an hour has passed
my mind still racing
—and I tell myself
if I fall asleep & dream
I may never awaken
abandoning the morning
like a mother dove
abandons her young
though wings I have not
soon I’ll find myself
a passenger
with someone
or something
that does
november two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved





