Sipping Sonnet

by Blaithin Ward 

The cup of water that sits by my bed, That

bubbles and breaths and watches me sleep. You

are no lullaby my mother said 

Or father’s hand to hold, so safe I’d keep.

Lipstick stained and handprint held, some glitter

Dust of a giddy night, you’ll send me off To 

snooze of kind things that can’t be bitter. I wake,

you’re there to ease my smoker’s cough. But

where have the hands and lullabies gone? 

Replaced by glass to shatter and splinter? Can

you stay by me ‘til my rest is done, And sleep

side by side like loves in winter? I need no

answer, just your cool, cold taste. The job you

have is only to hydrate.