My heart is awake,

roused by the exhilarating melody

my brain seeks to ignore

in its quest

for sleep’s sweet stasis.

My heart’s sparks

are frequently foolish and futile.

My brain,

cold water in hand,

basks a moment in the warm embers’ glow

and smiles.

Copyright 2017 by Maria Thompson Corley

(Originally published in Fledgling Rag)