Crying in Sleep
Crying in Sleep
Original Text
Marriott, Anne. Aqua. Toronto, ON: Wolsak and Wynn, 1991: 68.
1The old dog cries out in sleep
2his blind head pressed
3against my ankle.
4I run my hand for comfort
5down his thinning fur
6frail skin
7the brittle bones
8that feel like broken shells
9washed up on that far-off beach
10where once he ran and barked
11at threatening waves.
12Don’t let him die tonight!
13The ground is frozen hard.
14I could not bury him
15in his own place.
16I cried in sleep last night
17dreaming I waded in
18the shallows on that beach.
19Undertow snatched me tightened
20swept me out.
21Downing I fought for breath,
22screaming
23I woke.
24The dog licked my cheek.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire, assisted by Ana Berdinskikh
RPO Edition
2009
Form