A Bookworm’s Lullaby

Swish, swish, spit,

and a hiss of running water.

The gurgle of a toilet flush,

and the knock of a switch.

Slippers scuffing hardwood.

Bedroom carpet ignites a static zap.

A dial clicks for a fireplace crackle.

Soft ruffling of blankets.

His heavy chest exhales relaxation.

Mine, a squeal of excitement.

Click clack of a cat claw.

Against the wooden floor, he creeps.

Tick Tock from the grandfather clock,

and a Soothing hum from the oscillator.

Snap and pop of a vanilla-bean candle.

The anticipating tap of fingernails on a hardcover.

Pages rub against pages under the flickering light—

A friction I will always love.

The inviting echos of a noir crime—left unsolved

then the constant thrum of silence…

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

…Abrupt buzzing. The clock reads 7:00 am.

The unfinished murder will have to wait until my next lullaby begins.