Sleep and I, have gone our separate ways in life. She has meant so much to me in the past, and it was a sad, sad day when my choices forced me to let her go as my one true love! Many a day, we would spend together; we would experience every morning in each other’s presence, and our togetherness, on the not so rare occasion, would often take us to mid-day were we would then have to part. Yet in my heart, she never left! Her fragrance would leaguer with me throughout the entirety of the day, until we would again be reunited.

Now, my life, my calling for this age has torn me away from my Love! “ Oh Sweet, Sweet Sleep, I will not forget thee! Your presence made me strong, and in your absence I will become stronger, so that someday we may once again be brought back together in perfect harmony!” She is a preciously innocent creature, able to melt away a man’s heart; she can change him from an ever-stressful, never-resting machine, into a peaceful, thoughtless, careless being. Her presence can so create a since of contentment, complacency… perhaps even apathy towards life, and the retched, monotony that it seems to so potently possess. She comes to you, and seduces you with her rest, despite whatever engagement of commitment you might be bound to, you can do nothing but give in!

Alas, Sweet, Seductive, Sedentary Sleep! She has enticed me for too long! Yes, when we are together, there seems to be no greater bliss! Yet, as we part, I begin to see all the glories of life that she had mask – all the riches, and dreams that could have bean! I made a choice. No, I cannot wholly let loose of her grasp, but I have found another. One in whom lives life! Life that is full – life that is completely alive! – life that, though it may have it’s hard “ learning” times, has an appeal greater than that of these limited imaginary dreams of slumber.

While Sleep once had her sweet appeal, this Other , gives me a life that consist, still of dreams, but dreams of reality. Feats which could not be accomplished while under the blanket of sleep, but are highly attainable under Her vale. Her name… is Responsibility. Wait, what? Her name’s Responsibility?!? Forget that, I’m goin’ back to bed. G’night!

- Timothy D. Allen