zzzz

I miss the careless sleep of childhood
arms flung across the softest sheets ever to touch dusky skin
cheeks flushed with violent health
guiltless, guileless
timeless dreams of gazelles leaping across an endless tundra
and pink panda pets who live under magic sofas

"I'm not sleepy, mommy!" I exclaimed with all of my tiny might just before collapsing, boneless, against her fragrant shoulder
I don't remember being borne aloft up the stairs
placed gentle in a soft sheet sandwich
soothed
smoothed
cooed
slumber.