Debbie Pierre

Insomnia's salad tongs gripping love handles — 

tossing and turning bodies against bed dressings 

all night

 

The limitless ‘connect the dot’ game — 

finger smudging a window pane’s pre-set hot breathe 

drawing board, 

linking the sky’s endless Christmas lights 

for birthday signs: 

a Starry night 

 

“I’m not watching that!” — 

the royal rumble of shuffling disks and 

high horse opinions unleashed every 

movie night  

 

Tippytoes hovering over sensitive staircases, 

motion-activated creaks and squeaks 

live-streaming a curfew offender’s 

late night

 

“Give it a rest, Debbie. 

That assignment’s due tonight.” — 

Restless nails’ last-minute tap-dancing 

solo against a bruising keyboard. 

Like Cinderella’s, 

some miracles can happen before 

midnight…