My Wool Blanket

My Wool Blanket

Soaked in sweat,

slow cooking

under a wool blanket—

every labored breath 

adds steam to the sauna

I try to crawl out from under—

but there’s no end.

The tugging, the pulling—

the frantic thought 

that beyond heavy fabric 

is a world where I walk freely

to feel a sea breeze 

cool my clammy flesh—

a sun to smooth pruney fingers.

Can anyone hear my muffled cries 

under the covers?

The pleading, the begging—

or is every friend fooled 

by fluffed pillows propping my head—

the wool blanket—

the would-be winter comfort.

This tossing—

my turning

are not reactions to a night terror,

but to a reality—

I’m not waking from.

Biography: Born and raised in Los Angeles, Michael Roque discovered his passion for poetry and prose while studying at Pasadena City College. Now residing in the Middle East, he draws inspiration from the bustling, tumultuous life around him. His work has appeared in literary magazines and anthologies worldwide, including award-winning publications such as North Dakota Quarterly, The Queen’s Review, The Roanoke Rambler, Poetry Super Highway, and many others.

Image: Unsplash, downloaded (https://unsplash.com/photos/a-close-up-of-a-blanket-with-a-check-pattern-8Cc-WEcHDhY) 7. 5. 2026.

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