Rachel DiGiacomo
Day Care
The mattress hums with sleep
silence blankets the bedroom
slow, even breaths
punctuate the silence

suddenly, the silence is shattered
into a hundred blaring shards
painfully injured, silence sharply broken
an alarm clock screams

harsh, angry wails
demanding immediate attention
like a scorned child
an alarm clock screams

the bed groans softly
a hand pounces from under the covers
reprimanding the shrill outburst
with a disapproving slap

silence restores
a few minutes afforded
the blankets rise and fall
slow, even breaths resume


an alarm clock screams
with looming discord
flooding the room
with hateful repetition