Passacaglia
Baker at Daybreak Shopper
stay idle death,
by the way the sun danced
I knew the day
sleep
becomes you
would layer as a lemon
cake in sugar bloom
I need the dreams
sleep
I knew the child would drop
his books beside the door
run to the case
that stands between us
stay idle death,
stay, sleep
the way the sun danced
on the curved sweet glass
sleep becomes you well
I’d see the mother pause
smiling, seeing it all so fresh,
sleep death
the boy hops back and forth
glass wax gleaming
he wants it all and all at once
stay sleeping
dreams will surely come
stay idle death
to see the riches I had spun
and laid before them,
croissants lying
hip to hip
babas oozing for a bite
still still
be still idle death
toasted almonds
pressed upon a willing dough
sleep becomes you well
everything that little boys
call “cookie”
and which his mother
appear benign
who has that smile,
will buy for him
stay. sleep.
then smile again
idle now
but she has no smile today
be idle now
she doesn’t see the red-striped heart
I give the boy
sleep
idle death benign
each night I dream
her smile sugars my hands
and I will give her
sleep, stay. death
anything she asks.