I Don't Want To Dream Tonight Poem by Thabani Khumalo

I don't want to dream tonight -
dreams might end up upsetting the view of my reality.
I don't want to dream tonight -
thus I am angry about the drowsiness of sleep. Once I go to sleep, I will begin to see scenes in my dreams;
just meaningless pictures that scare me without a cause.

I am sickened by the voices and images in sight by day,
yet in the dim atmosphere of the night,
I hear voices and see images of the same anguished souls.
When will I ever sit alone and listen to the full tune
of the priceless silence: that is the space where I extract poetry,
but that space has never been quiet enough
for me to hear myself process my own thoughts.
I really don't want to dream tonight.