Do not call me now

I do not want to answer

I am pretending

to not be me

while these tears find their

paths slow, zig-zag

across my cheeks

the way a train bends

itself to the music of rails–

like a snake going home

I want to beat myself

like talking drum

until I wake up in

the mouth of a dancing song

magic enough to charm

the viper winding

along my cheeks

back into my eyes

Myth of sleep

after so much try, you lay on your back

& the whole world is asleep

your ceiling becomes a flat screen tv

there’s always this problem channel

where worries are shown in series

garnished with the eighth wonder

of the world:

how my brother begins snoring

immediately his back meets the bed

you’re not even a zoologist

& you know how many dogs barked

before the cocks crowed

by morning, only those who slept

will wake up

others will stand up carrying a

pregnancy of night in their eyelids

strength will miss like sleep

in the eyes of night guards,

in the eyes of a nightshift nurse

checking for awakening on

the face of a thermometer

before examining the eye

of a sleeping patient

willing her to not wake, whispering:

enjoy your sleep now while it lasts

unless you want to count stars

for a living

About the Poet

Trust Tonji writes from Porto Novo, Republic of Benin. His poetry has recently appeared in the Around This Fire response chapbook series at Praxis Magazine Online.

The post Two Poems by Trust Tonji first appeared on Prachya Review.