roust

Democrats’ conundrum is whether authorities should roust, fine and imprison people residing in public spaces in the interest of answering the broader community’s quality-of-life concerns.

The only thing that could roust me from my peaceful slumber was the most grotesque vision imaginable: an undulating river of red lights in front of me.

I tried rousting them by leaning into them and whispering, “Velia, Delia, wake up. Wake up girls,” but they were out cold, so I closed my eyes and prayed.

And thus the cycle of having to roust a sleepy, yawning teenager from bed for school begins again.

How else would the night watchman know when to roust his fellows out of their comfortable straw beds to begin the day’s devotions?