To sleep a night through, not remember dreams,
and wake refreshed – what did I have to do?
Break every rule. Watch hectic TV streams,
drink water after nine, and put in two
hours’ screen time just before I went to bed,
reviewing text online. And oh yes, by
the bedside lamp, to let my eye be led
by Pope to see more Greeks and Trojans die.
I hadn’t slept so peacefully for weeks.
Perhaps it was the exercise I took,
some special food, a calming thought? One seeks
in vain. My good night has a random look.
Unless, perversely, we might want to say
obeying rules for slumber doesn’t pay.