Listening

Awakened by a sound
Someone in the night
Early morning
In darkness and alone
Tied to wakefulness.
I wait for
The small death of sleep
To return but
I lie listening, wakeful
Cat snoring, foot enclosed
Suddenly again, aware.
I breath softly
Listening, hearing
Neighbour sounds
Laughter, throaty,
She breathes, fast
Faster, faster,
Then ragged edged
Breathes
Short, sharp gasp, then
Soft dreamy laugh
Her tension discharge.
Releases me.
I tumble over and over.
Falling
Sleep claims me in soft feathers
Warm, cacooned, blanket wrapped
Drifting, wafting, rising
Surfacing slowly relaxed.
I awake to the roseate dawn