SWEET SLUMBER di Cecille Cafca Burns

you've been through a thousand lives
nine-nine-nine of which are fond
of glowing bright before your eyes
as sweet slumber comes along

the wind brings the autumn brings the wind
crisp news evading your reaching hand
the wind kicks the window in the pane
testimonies lost and lost denials wisped away

the north-south current and the east-west current
and the renaissant cypress are heaving
to stay still
to stay still
means not that these fears will stop wreathing