PoemHunter.com

Sleep by Kenneth Slessor

10/11/2008 10:48:42 AM
Home Poets Poems Lyrics Quotations Music Forum Search Member Area Poetry E-Books Sites Mini Quiz
 

POEMS

LYRICS

MUSIC

QUOTATIONS

SEARCH

   
Kenneth Slessor Kenneth Slessor
(1901 - 1971)
Free Poetry E-Book:
7 poems of Kenneth Slessor

File Size: 88k  File Format: Acrobat Reader
To download the eBook right-Click on the title and select "Save Target As". more ebooks >>
   • Biography  Poems  Quotations  Comments  More Info  Stats 

 
 
<< prev. poem Poems by Kenneth Slessor: 4 / 7 next poem >>
  
 
Sleep
 
  Do you give yourself to me utterly,

Body and no-body, flesh and no-flesh

Not as a fugitive, blindly or bitterly,

But as a child might, with no other wish?

Yes, utterly.



Then I shall bear you down my estuary,

Carry you and ferry you to burial mysteriously,

Take you and receive you,

Consume you, engulf you,

In the huge cave, my belly, lave you

With huger waves continually.

And you shall cling and clamber there

And slumber there, in that dumb chamber,

Beat with my blood's beat, hear my heart move

Blindly in bones that ride above you,

Delve in my flesh, dissolved and bedded,

Through viewless valves embodied so –



Till daylight, the expulsion and awakening,

The riving and the driving forth,

Life with remorseless forceps beckoning –

Pangs and betrayal of harsh birth.

Kenneth Slessor


Read poems about / on: birth, child, sleep, heart, children

#581
in Top500
 

User Rating:

9.2 /10
(6 votes)



 
Comments about this poem (Sleep by Kenneth Slessor)  more comments >>
Click here to write your comments about this poem (Sleep by Kenneth Slessor)
 
Lawrance Pope (5/20/2007 5:17:00 AM)
I'm not much of a poem fan, however this poem is Fantastic!
Prospero 78 (11/28/2005 6:15:00 AM)
such a fantastic poem... seems a precursor to something like Michael Dransfield's 'Epiderm'...

Read all 4 comments >>
People who read Kenneth Slessor also read: More classic poets:

The complete list >>

Lyrics

The complete list >>

QuickPoll
Overall, how would you rate our website?
Very good
Rather good
Fair
Rather poor
Very poor

 Search in the World Poetry Database => 

 Search:   in:      tips
Hide the search box!

E-MAIL THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND - Found this page interesting? Recommend it to your friend! 
 Your E-mail:  
 Friend's Email:  
   
Your
Message:

 

(c) Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge..  About Us | Copyright notice | Privacy statement | Help
10/11/2008 10:48:42 AM. You Are Here: Sleep by Kenneth Slessor

Home | Poets | Poems | Lyrics | Music | Quotations | Forum | Search | Random Poem | Free Poetry eBooks | Contests | Sites |
Submit a Poem | Manage Your Poems | Contact Us

Christmas Poems | Love Poems | Pablo Neruda | Death Poems | Sad Poems | Birthday Poems | Wedding Poems | Annabel Lee | Sorry Poems | Winter Poems