Three Poems – Brendan Constantine

“What hath night to do with sleep?”

I can tell when you're having nightmares; 
your breath changes, gets louder, you 
shift your feet. Sometimes a bird will hit 
the window, the lights turn themselves 
on. Every so often an astronaut knocks 
at the bedroom door, asks to come in.
I always refuse but gratefully. I know he 
wouldn't be there unless you needed me 
to rub your neck again, your shoulders, 
say softly, It's OK, I'm here. You're safe. 
No one expects you to float or discover 
life on Venus. Sleep. Sleep. I’ve learned