Sleep Poem by Joshua Swanson

The thief of time,
Whose silent tread,
Spreads dreams and nightmares,
Like golden thread.

Keeper of the keys of time,
Riding forth in deepest night.
Trailing sights and sounds behind,
That disappear at dawns first light.

Sandman, Satan;
Whomever you be;
I call ye forth:
Now come to me!

Let me do things I cannot alive;
Let me see mysteries,
Let me leave and arrive;

Show me the truth behind mortal thought,
I will pay you a piece of my life,
Which I wrought,
Hot from the forge of the world each new day,

Only to pay it to you.
Go away!
I will not surrender,
I will not submit!

I will stay awake,
I will never remit!

I will stand straight and tall,
Against the onslaught of night,
I will not buckle and break,
I will stand and will fight!

I must soon surrender,
I cannot resist,
For lacking all sleep,
Man cannot subsist.

So though you have won,
I am proud of the fight!
I stood against you,
Through many a night.