"The 3:00 a.m. Sonnet"

This night and all the hours before me be
And promises of sweet escape do make
In dreams, perchance of no quotid'yn deed
But action of exotic nature take.

But once asleep do backwards songs all come
Like speeches learned anew and sleeping drilled
A language learned as from a foreign tongue
Rehears'd 'til thoughts of sleep are deftly killed.

The bell doth chime but thrice in darkest hour,
In seemed consort with the dogs outside.
An anthem when combined with midnight shower
Did wrest from me complete the rest I 'quire'd
     Now games of chance with Morpheus I play
     With my return to bed the stakes to pay.


©2002 Lauren Henderson