Matthew Henry John Bartlett

I like the feeling of slowly falling asleep while reading. Or being just awake enough to memorise my page number and put my book somewhere safe (from dribble), knowing that within seconds I will no longer be. There is also having the words slide past at exactly reading speed, but being too preoccupied with my own dramas to notice theirs, waking from the sleepless dream and having to backtrack a page or two. Falling asleep is trust and civilisation; I am the Noble Civilian. Hot and cold running water comfort me in a bath where sleep ruins library books. Bath sleep is death sleep, immoblised dreamless in porcelain. Waking is birth breaking the waters, disorientated, brand new wrinkled baby skin and a clean slate.

[thanks Dan]