I love going to the mattress store
I love walking down the aisles
These aisles that are lined
With some of the world’s
Most comfortable beds.
Someday,
A customer will walk in the store
And pick out their favorite bed.
Someday,
That customer will sleep in that bed.
They’ll have dreams
Making them laugh
Or cry in despair
Trailing tears on the sheets.
They’ll lay awake restlessly
Sleepless.
Counting sheep
Staring at the ceiling
Out the window.
Sometimes,
They might get up for a glass of water.
Maybe a bowl of cereal
To put them back to sleep.
They’ll sit at the counter
Elbow on the granite
Head down
Stirring frosted flakes.
What happens when you can’t go to sleep?
Lay awake on the mattress
Trying to make you brain numb.
Stuff your face into the pillow
Find that comfortable sleeping position.
Close your eyes shut
Block out the banter
And try to finally, finally go to sleep
On that mattress
You thought would be comfortable
When you walked down the aisles.