time to sleep

[metaphorliteral]

She's got a set routine to go to bed:
brush hair and teeth, don pajamas, take a pill,
then on the pillow rest her weary head
and lie there for hours, waiting, feeling ill
as time ticks by and sleep eludes her still,
wishing for unconsciousness to claim her.
If only sleeping were a matter of will!
She tosses and turns, can't help but to stir.
The hours between twelve and three are a blur
of restlessness and unfulfilled hope of sleep.
Every night these events recur.
She shuts her eyes, resorts to counting sheep.
Eventually sleep will come on soft tiptoes
and quiet down her thoughts of these and those.