Some Nights (Poetry)

I long for the calm that used to settle on me —
the smoothing of the day to a drowsy flat
shadowed comfort edging to surround me
outlines vague and thought a covered vat

an inner sea untroubled — safe to swim in —
a lazy crawl or floating on my back
and watching stars I’ve never known the names of
that wrap me slowly in their buttoned black.

These days I search for sleep — her ghost avoids me
elusive now my one-time faithful friend
the rest I cannot find drains reason from me —
I yearn for that deep night that has no end.