I scream
not for ice cream
but in the middle of the night
and when the demons and fears
quiet and then subside
the clock continues to tick tock
and in the morning
when I might finally rest
it’s the clock again
another scream to begin my day.
What breakfast? What lunch?
Scream. Scream.
What clothes? What work?
Scream. Scream.
Toilet won’t flush scream.
Car won’t start scream.
The mirror’s reflection is all wrong scream.
My self is all wrong scream.
Scream to let go scream
Scream to hang on scream
Scream do I want to hang on scream
Pray to make it through a day scream
Any day, every day, today scream
Scream for the day to end scream.
What day end? What dinner? What now?
I scream for warmth
and call in the cats
rally the troops
pretend that’s enough scream
go to bed scream.
I have a remedy for the scream
But it makes me want to scream.
So I continue to scream
because I don’t want to scream
Wait.
Tick. Tock.
For tomorrow.
Sleep scream.