I
like
napping

a lot

both
in the
sense

of

really
liking it

and of

doing it
frequently

during
middle school

my
afternoon
naps would

stretch
well past

the hour
mark

until

my
mom

would rouse
me

with
handclaps

like one
would
shoo

a dog

off
the couch

working

on a
model

cell
for science
class

making
mitochondria
made my

eyelids
heavy

so
I stayed
where I

laid
down
my head

later

my brother
came upon
the scene

glue

markers

multicolored
styrofoam

pipe
cleaners

marbles and

me

sprawled

face down

on
the carpet

called
my name

in a
tone of

true
concern

about
the dirt
nap

but the
nap

was
regular

at an
old job

I took
daily

after-lunch
naps

at first
I’d just

sit
at the
top

of
the stairs

to the
off-limits

roof

and close
my eyes

should
anybody

ever come
across me

well
what the
hell

were they
doing

at the
top

of
the stairs

to the
off-limits

roof?

nobody ever

came
across me

later

at the
same

job

I gained
easy access

to the
only
set of

supply room
keys

I’d snag
them

and lock
myself in

make a
mattress

of
padded
mailers

should
anybody

ever come
across me

I’d be
guaranteed

at least
a

wake-up
knock

nobody ever

knocked

now I’m
unemployed

and my
naps are

unabated

seems the
older

I get

the less
supervision

I get

eventually
I’ll sleep

all the
time

but
who can’t
say that?