Nighttime Qualms

The sprinkler just quit,
and that's great
because I just realized that it was irritating

I can't think
can't sleep
can't find my way
home again

even the sound of the crickets,
which usually calms my nerves,
is instead tearing them into little pieces
of red fire.

Itch,
sigh,
twist my leg out from under the covers.

from the open window,
watch the moon slip behind a cloud
the way a woman's curves
slide into white silk.

watch it break out,
like a child from bathwater,
chilling the hot night
with its naked silver beam.

but right now,
all I want to see is the dark
places behind my eyelids.