Salvador's Siesta

Salvador lubricates his wrists
with oil of aspic, like a Capuchin monk.
He stretches out his arms, sits down,
and rests them against the arms
of his ancient chair.
He puts a key, a heavy key
in his hand with his other hand
and pinches it between thumb and finger.
He lets the key's weight
slowly move his consciousness
to unconsciousness and tries to be aware
but not aware of the key slipping.
It hits the upturned plate he placed on the floor
and wakes him, though he can't remember sleeping.
He is now refreshed
for a magic afternoon of work,
with a split second's worth
of hypnagogic images for his brush,
no drowsiness from the short,
essential siesta.