A Sleep Poem by Lonnie Hicks

She lay sleeping
like Beauty
awaiting a kiss.

Leaning close
I feel the warmness
of her breath,
her eye lids
flutter occasionally
in butterfly sleep;
up they flick
and down again
to pause
and then
flutter again.

The shoulders bare
below spaghetti straps,
the neck
in its curvature
roll across
the shoulders where
it meets that rounded curve
atop
the arms peak.

The collar's place
swoops away
to right and left
before
floating down
to that space
above her breasts
where a slow breath
gives the topography
of brown rolling hills.

Can there be here
heavens' heights
traversing these gentle slopes;
up toward that crimson mouth
topped by haired piled
high
arrayed on the pillow-scape
cloud like?

Can it be the cheeks
are mountain flanks
kissed summer red
by my mouth?

I have no more
of wealth or need
than to lie here
and watch you sleep,
the sleep that lovers sleep
complete;

and notice how my
adorning eyes
become sugar plums
dancing.