i sleep between sheets
between dreams and i wake
aching and tired
my eyes scream for tears
but my cheeks taste sticky
and dry so i do not cry
i only cry when i wish to yell,
and when i wish to cry
i only ache
when i wake i wish to yell
and to cry and to feel
but instead
i extricate myself
from the sheets and undergo the morning rituals
of brushing sleep from my teeth and hair
washing sleep from my face
stumbling down the stairs
to fumble with the espresso machine
until i craft a honey latte that tastes too sweet
and hardly opens my eyes further at all.
Darby Brown is an emerging writer and poet from Nashville, TN. She has recently completed her MA in creative writing at the University of Birmingham in England and now lives in London where she continues to fall in love with the way words and stories can lead us toward a greater understanding of ourselves and the world around us. In addition to being a monthly contributor for HYW, she serves as an editorial intern. Follow her on Instagram @darbybrownwrites.
Featured image by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels
