night reading

in bed before
eleven with book in hand,
the tv
off, the phone muted,
I lie
there against
a wall of pillows and
read.
one lamp on,
a bright curve of light
upon me.
I turn a page or two.
look at the back page
to see how long
the book is,
I reread the first page
to see what
I remember, then go back
to from where I
started, page ten,
ear marked with a corner
turned. i'm sleepy
now. I'll try again
tomorrow.