when finally
we go to sleep to sleep

when finally
         we go to sleep to sleep
we will know
         that we have grown old
we will shudder
         as the snow
melts from branches
         and bury ourselves
beneath warm blankets
         to bide our time

when finally
         we go to sleep to sleep
we will know
         that some dreams
can be spent
         once and for all
and may never return
         we will remember then
the days and nights
         when nakedness
signified a constellation
         of delights
and a consummation
         of every caprice

when finally
         we go to sleep to sleep
we will regret nothing
         not a sparrow not a starling
not a rose nor the icy scent
         of lavender
on fresh laundered sheets
         having had the thrill
of our fill
         our fill
of the thrill

when finally
         we go to sleep to sleep
we will be content
         that we gave love our all
that we covered every base
         that not a single rosebud
was left unculled
         not a single bale
remained unmade
         and not a single kiss
went astray

John Lyons