While We Sleep

The earth takes up our bodies, every one, And brings them slowly backward to the dark ; Then on her shadowed side we droop and slumber, Turned from the sun.

(Meanwhile He covers continents in light One after other, so they stretch and wake, Live their day through and droop again to slumber : Day, night : day, night.)

The stars shine forth and disappear again, Roaring about in space above our heads, While we are folded to the earth in slumber With dreaming brain.

We travel through the darkness : we are spun Upward through rays of light into the morning ; We waken with the earth : we glide from slumber Toward the sun.