sleeping beside you I dreamt

I woke beside you;

waking beside you

I thought I was dreaming

have you ever slept beside an ocean?

well yes,

it is like this

the whole motion of landscapes, of oceans

is within her.

she is

the innocence of any flesh sleeping,

so vulnerable

no protection is needed.

in such times

the heart opens,

contains all there is,

there being no more than her.

in what country she is

I cannot tell.

but knowing – because there is love

and it blots out all demons –

she is safe,

I can turn,

sleep well beside her.

waking beside her I am dreaming.

dreaming of such wakings

I am all love’s senses woken.

Brian Patten