Sleep/Awake

When lids draw shut and eyes
in their flickering fall
into night’s embrace
then we float at mercy
of currents turning
comets to water
turning water to canvas
of sky and horizon.

And awakening in this dream
life, sunlit and moon caressed,
time worn from first cry,
we are its pupils,
the painter and painted.
Each breath a brushstroke
of time, flaring and fading.
Eyes open, eyes shut.

Warwick McFadyen