For When You Cannot Sleep

by Trisha Arlin

Berukhah at YahA name for God, as in "halleluyah" – praise God. Some people prefer this name for God as a non-gendered option.
RuakhLit. Spirit. Some new versions of blessings call God "Spirit of the World" (Ruakh Ha’olam), rather than "King of the World" (Melekh Ha'olam). ha’olam
Blessed Steady Breath,
It is the middle of the night and I am awake.

My brain will not stop:

I fret, I plan, I pine.

So I read, I pee, I pet the cat

But nothing works.

Tell me a story,

Something familiar and soothing,

Nothing real:

Comfort and stupefy me.

Then make this night like Shabbat

With no before or after

And nothing to worry about

Besides my blankets.

I close my eyes for this holy conversation

And ask that every breath becomes a soothing prayer

And ask for a quiet heart,

And imagine that I sleep.

Amen.

Posted in Hard Times
insomnia, sleep

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