When I wake words want me.Sleep wishes to drag me downto the bed, while awake desiresto pull me from the mattress,force me to drink cups of coffee.News launches from the TV,showing disaster everywherewho promises to visit me soon.Shoes love my feet. The coatsticks to my body. I swearat late for pushing me out,wave bye to early, on-time.As I walk to work the cloudof language hovers around me.They're flies that summon firing,fear, and anxiety, each one leavinga nasty bite. I pick out hope,but she's the least of her siblings."You have to really believe in mefor it to work." I chant her name.I believe, I tell her, I believe.She floats ahead of me, glowing.She promises I'll get through this.____Donald Illich's work has appeared in journals such as The Iowa Review, LIT, Nimrod, Passages North, Rattle, andSixth Finch.  He was named Honorable Mention in Word Works' Washington Prize Competition.  His chapbook is Rocket Children.