Perchance to Sleep

To Sleep

 

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

But if I should die before I wake

I pray the Lord my —

 

(Die?)

 

I pray the Lord to reconsider

let me stay, so to say, intact

I have this book to surrender,

 a few close friends to contact

let them know my time is thinner

 

here Lord I have a short list

 some things I may have missed

don’t think I can finish

before I sleep unblemished

 

 would you, could you

find room for a delay

that you might consider

another day?

 

or two–

or maybe three

I have to trim a very large tree

I know asking for four is more

but I could fix a creak in this door

 

and then I have to explain to the wife

how I let her tropical fish, so adored

depart from this life–

 second thought, tonight is alright my Lord!

• g.w