By Madi Zanardelli
I’m Afraid to sleep,
I’m not scared of the dark
It’s not a fear of dreaming.
I’m Afraid to wake up.
to start another day
to repeat another cycle
I’m Afraid to rise in the morning.
to drudge through another formless day
to scramble through school, lost in a screen
I’m Afraid to be one day closer.
to the due date, deadline, test
to the event, meal, missed gathering
closer to the end.
I’m Afraid to postpone another day’s work
to be reminded of what has yet to be accomplished
of what should have been done
of what isn’t being done
I’m Afraid to open my eyes.
to see the failed work of yesterday
to see the endless imperfections
I’m Afraid to let go of tonight
to fall into a restless daze
only to wake up to the next day
I’m Afraid to sleep.