Physics says: Go to sleep. Of course you’re tired. Every atom in you has been dancing the shimmy in silver shoes nonstop from mitosis to now. Quit tapping your feet. They’ll dance inside themselves without you. Go to sleep.

Geology says: It will be all right. Slow inch by inch America is giving itself to the ocean. Go to sleep. Let darkness lap at your sides. Give darkness an inch. You aren’t alone. All of the continents used to be one body. You aren’t alone. Go to sleep.

Astronomy says: The sun will rise tomorrow,

Zoology says: On rainbow-fish and little gazelle,

Psychology says: But first it has to be night, so

Biology says: The body-clocks are stopped all over town and

History says: Here are the blankets, layer on layer, down and down.