Unwilling to Wake

While the dove grieved,
Buried in morning
I guarded myself from day,
Blanketed, yawning.

What nightmares unmanned me
While I lay sleeping!
Hundreds of sins have pressed
Out of my keeping.

In the sharp light, lying
Stagnant, aching,
I count the cost of my
Terrible waking

While the dove’s litany,
Coaxing, warning,
Brings me to book on this
Condemned morning.