ROGER McGOUGH 1937–


COMECLOSE AND SLEEPNOW

it is afterwards

and you talk on tiptoe

happy to be part

of the darkness

lips becoming limp

a prelude to tiredness.

Comeclose and Sleepnow

for in the morning

when a policeman

disguised as the sun

creeps into the room

and your mother

disguised as birds

calls from the trees

you will put on a dress of guilt

and shoes with broken high ideals

and refusing coffee

run

alltheway

home.