Apparent to the naked eye was
a heartbeat thumping deep
and reverberating, rattling round
the brain
reminding of imminent hangover
neither recreational
nor pleasurable
more a compulsory scratching or picking
of a scab
the clock ticked clear indicating
all too well
the dwindling hours before
the mobile phone called in the morning
breaking up the undulating silence with
catterwails and rubbing the cat awake from
it's slumber
