What to do

What to do

From the screams of the night

Dogs barking, cats meowing

Crickets chirping,

People murmuring,

Trains screeching on the rails.

Quiet, then noise again.

I try to sleep,

But my mind won’t stop—

Thoughts racing,

Curiosities swirling,

Worries of past mistakes,

Finances due,

A struggle to blank the brain.

No use.

I stay awake 'til dawn.

Hyper-alertness will haunt me tomorrow,

Afraid of my own surroundings.

What to do?

When will it end?

Sleep feels impossible

Unless magic takes my hand.

What to do?

A passing thought—

Who’s winning the house of Mexico’s famous?

A need for social media,

Creative ideas jumping up and down.

A scary story from my life, waiting to be told.

The next photo to take,

A lady in an ice cream shop, cone in hand.

When to take a mental break?

What to do?

Memories of what could’ve been,

Anxiousness brewing all day.

I want 8 hours of peace.

Not a chance.

My neurons run like a 24-hour diner.

Please, calm down.

I need warmth, silence,

Breathable air—

But no.

What to do?

One obstacle after another,

Please hush, inner chatter—

If not, surrender to the chaos awaits me.

What to do?