Tonight I couldn't sleep,
just like I couldn't sleep the last 5 nights in a row.
Despite physically exhausting myself during the day,
and brief calls of slumber come midnight,
I never quite succumb.

But that is beside the point.

Tonight I couldn't sleep,
so I made myself some tea
chamomile and spearmint
(ironically I hate spearmint, but in this particular tea it is good)
hot water, and honey.

And I was reminded of my grandmother's rose tea,
the kind she bought in big boxes when I was little,
with ceramic animal figurines inside
and how I wished so dearly for the dog or the cat
only ever getting a pony and a sleek grey goldfish

I wonder what happened to those little dolls
or those big boxes of rose tea
have they passed with age,
or remained strong, like I, lying in wait