Author and Columnist Shelly Reuben

When your head hits the pillow … just right.

You’re assured that you’ll sleep through the night.

Your dreams … all are kisses

Ephemeral blisses

Envelop you up ‘till first light.

Oh, joy! All the following day.

A glorious mood will hold sway.

You are bubbly with gladness

No glimpses of sadness

In a “Gosh, I slept well” sort of way.

But we’re singing a different song

When our head hits the pillow … all wrong.

A tangle of sheets

Wearily greets

A body that does not belong.

Our legs and our arms seem to squeeze

Up against wrists, and ankles, and knees.

And … Oh, Heaven knows

There just isn’t a pose

That provides us with comfort and ease.

When day finally dawns in the morn,

And we’re wishing we’d never been born.

Our mood’s dark and gloomy

Our brains have no room-y

For gladness. We’re simply forlorn.

So, that’s what a good night of sleep

Or … a bad one, in due course, will reap.

Happy and glad

Or grumpy and sad …

Counting sheep like a Little Bo-Beep!

In the long run, it’s always the best

On a night when we really need rest.

To hit the pillow … just right.

And then all through the night.

We’ll be blessed with a sweet slumber-fest!

Copyright © Shelly Reuben, 2026. Shelly Reuben’s books have been nominated for Edgar, Prometheus, and Falcon awards. For more about her writing, visit