In the history of mankind, there is only one thing that is the same for everyone: the need to sleep. When we were young, our mothers sang us lullabies to help us get there. Here’s a poem I wrote for my daughters, but when they were young they would not have understood the allusions. Will they today?

Ninth Lullaby

Now is the time for ev’ryone to sleep:

Orion’s stopped his hunting for the night;

Nowhere is waiting in the pale Moon’s light;

And slumber overtakes the Shepherd’s sheep.

Night, sweet dreams, my child, may your rest be deep:

In a few short moments you’ll be out of sight;

Nostalgia will slip down from left to right;

No longer will you care what the day can keep.

Away you’ll sail into the world of dreams:

Neptune’s domain, the mirrored inner side;

As soon as you’ve arrived you’ll be aware,

Not of usual scenes, but of all your schemes,

Negotiated at birth, to be tried

Amongst the living, if you really dare.