Never-ending Night

  The photos below have nothing to do with the poem written underneath them. I just thought I'd share what is in bloom here and add a little color to my blog. The bleeding hearts and lilacs are growing in my yard.  I photographed the daffodils in one of our nearby metro parks. I hope you enjoy seeing them. 

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Never-ending Night

I'm exhausted.

I think I will fall right to sleep...but I don't.

I think my brain

will quiet down and quit its rant...but it won't.

Instead, it hits rewind so I can hear 

every conversation replayed from the day.

It reminds me of what I said,

and of what might have been better to say.

I worry, fret, and deal with regret,

but you can live each day only once.

I fuss and fume about the things,

over which I have no control.

Stop brain, stop! You're driving me mad.

This sleep deprivation is taking its toll.

First, minutes pass,

and then they turn into hours,

and there's no sleep in sight.

Restless; I toss, squirm, and sigh,

trying to wish away

the never-ending night.

My thoughts are rumbling,

chaotic, in a spin.

And just as I finally start to doze,

the alarm jangles and jeers,

"Wake up, wake up. No sleep for you.

It's time to begin again."

You Make Me Laugh, Giraffe!

I don't know if any of you have been following the progress of the pregnant and soon-to-give-birth giraffe named April at the Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, NY, but I've heard so much about her lately, that I thought I'd write a poem about giraffes. I took the photos in this post the last time I visited the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus, Ohio.

You Make Me Laugh, Giraffe!

You make me laugh, giraffe,

with your cherry picker neck 

sticking way up in the trees,

yet you are graceful 

when you amble about

on your spindly legs and knobby knees.

You have a long-reaching tongue 

that's purplish-black,

and a tail like a paintbrush

to swish the flies off your back.

Up high you have expressive brown eyes,

so gentle and sweet.

Way down below you have

 four clompy, stompy feet.

Your markings are unique,

unlike any other creature.

Spot and dots--you have lots!

They may be your best feature.

You have the best view around

from your outlook in the sky.

You make me laugh, giraffe!

I think God created you

with a twinkle in his eye.

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On another topic, I'd like to thank Robert Lee Brewer from Writer's Digest for including my poem, "F0ol," as one of his top 21 favorites submitted to his poem-a-day challenge (the 2016 April PAD Challenge). He announced the results on his blog on March 21, 2017. He has already begun the 2017 PAD Challenge, and it's not too late to join in for anyone who wants to be a part of it. The challenge began on April 1st and will continue throughout the month. Each day during April, he will provide a poetry prompt to give his readers some inspiration. Please visit his blog if you would like to join in the fun.