Sleep

Sleep

she slid
out of her shoes
then out of her clothes
then into
her warm shower

she slid
out of the shower
smelling of japanese
cheery blossoms
she dried
then slid
smoothly
into
her warm
four poster 
bed

she closed her eyes
praying
for the wellbeing
of the woman
she'd seen
sleeping 
on the church steps
sleeping
in rags
and reeking
of her filth

she thanked
god
for the blessing
of being more fortunate
than that

she fell asleep
forgetting
the times
long ago
when she'd 
fallen asleep
in her clothes
blackout drunk

forgetting
about the times
when she was young
waking
with piss stained
pants
or vomit
in her hair

forgetting
about those nights
sometimes
regrettable
but sometimes
not

forgetting
about those nights
the apex
of the freedom
she's long forgotten
too

forgetting
because now
without the booze
she can't sleep
well enough
without
the principles
that have replaced
so many
of her most inconvenient
memories