Must Sleep

but strange thoughts,

paranoia

keeps me awake

it happens

when i can't explain

the subtle sensuality

of the choral chamber,

the Gregorian chants

the longing for the breaking

of isolation in an age pulling us

further and further away

from our souls, from each other

it happens when i have so much

to twist out of me so i'd rather

do my splurging and purging

in words and not ache and suffer

from relentless tossing and turning

i can only hope for the tide to turn,

for the ocean of exhaustion

to wash over me

for the saltwater memories

to cleanse me of this indelible burn