The demon list…

I went to bed at half past one,

The list was almost halfway done

But then, it only lists by item…

Some jobs last ad infinitum.

Though that mid-point is false you see

But the illusion comforts me…

I can at least head off to bed

Without to-do lists in my head.

The list is long and just keeps growing

And there is no way of knowing

What will join the urgent pile

If I should let stuff wait awhile.

I have to be back up by six

To give the hound her morning fix

Of cool spring air and smells that lurk

Before I have to leave for work.

But could I sleep? No, could I hell,

My thoughts upon that list would dwell

No matter what I did or thought

My mind kept turning back to ‘ought’.

So first, I tried to meditate,

And sent my conscious thoughts to wait

Where silent peace has made its vow

Within the chamber of ‘not now’.

But did it work? For once, oh no,

My thoughts to silence would not go,

I shot the clock a narrowed look,

Then gave in and reached for a book.

But could I concentrate? Not yet.

I realised, with some regret

My thoughts, regardless of the time,

Just played around with silly rhyme.

And so, at half past two or three,

Just picture this… disgruntled me,

The bedside light switched on again

Armed with a notepad and a pen.

(And no, I know that doesn’t rhyme,

But at this dark, unheard of time

An assonance will do just fine,

For just one small and measly line.)

I tried again, and then gave in,

Insomnia was going to win.

By four, I caved and just got up,

And headed for the coffee cup.

Downstairs the dog already waited,

Eagerness all unabated,

Ready for her morning run

And wanting me to share the fun.

There on the desk the demon lay,

The new to-do list for the day;

So please excuse me while I write…

I’d really like to sleep tonight!