A dreaming, happy boy I was,

But like every morning does

It ends at times I cannot choose.

The mortal realm, a gloomy place,

I wipe eyelid crust off my face.

I roll over and press the snooze.

The dream world I do return to.

I dream of cats, I dream of you,

But, sadly, it does not last for long.

The door bursts open, enter Mom.

“You’ll miss the bus.” She’s far from calm.

I pretend to sleep; my act is strong.

She yanks my feet from resting pose

I scream, I shout, she tugs my clothes.

My pajama pants go flying off.

My mother whips across the room.

She strikes the wall. It goes BOOM!

She spits up blood and airs a cough.

She’s had enough, flips on the light.

I curse with words I googled last night,

But Mom is having none of it.

The blanket is torn from my bed.

There lies crying sleepyhead

Drenched in sweat, pee, and spit.

She grabs me by my matted hairs

And throws me down a set of stairs.

Just to get me to school on time.

She packs me lunch with moldy fruit.

The front door cracks; I get the boot.

The bus zips to school on a dime.