Another Sleepless Night

As soon as I've read it,
I wish I hadn't.
My stomach churns
As if to warn me of
Another sleepless night.

I patiently wait
For my insides to settle
So my outsides can
Get some rest, but it's
Another sleepless night.

Finally, I venture to
Close my eyelids,
But images of horrid,
Unspeakable things make this
Another sleepless night.

After the first failure,
I am wary of
Entering darkness again,
But I must try to avoid
Another sleepless night.

As my mind races,
My heartbeat quickens,
My breathing grows heavy.
Uncontrollable shaking assures
Another sleepless night.

Hot, angry tears
Spill out of eyes that
I am too afraid to close.
I am tired, so tired, on
Another sleepless night.

I try to think of
Someone to talk to,
Someone to share my pain,
But no one on earth can understand
Another sleepless night.

The birds start singing at 5:01,
And the sun creeps up at 5:16.
I offer a silent prayer of thanks
To the One who brings the morning on
Another sleepless night.

The morning light scares
Away the darkness,
And the birds seem to whisper,
"Hush, you can sleep now," after
Another sleepless night.

Exhaustion takes over
As I close my weary eyes.
The bad thoughts are chased away.
I've made it through
Another sleepless night.

I try my best to guard my heart,
But as sure as there
Is dark and light,
There will always be
Another sleepless night.