SLEEP-STEALER
Whostolesleepfrombaby’seyes?Imustknow。
gherpitchertoherwaist,motherweerfromthevillagenearby。
Itwasnoon。The’splaytimewasover;theduthepo。
Theshepherdboylayasleepuheshadowofthebanyantree。
&oodgraveandstillintheshemangogrove。
IheSleep-stealerd,snatgsleepfrombaby’seyes,fle>
&hercamebackshefoundbabytravellingtheroomoveronallfours。
Whostolesleepfromourbaby’seyes?Imustknow。Imustfindherandherup。
Imustlookintothatdarkcave,where,throughbouldersandsgstoricklesatinystream。
Imustsearthedrowsyshadeofthebakulagreonstheirdfairies’aihestillarrynights。
IntheeveningIwillpeepintothewhisperihebambooforest,wherefire-fliessqua,andwillaskeverycreatureImeet,“ewheretheSleep-stealerlives?”
Whostolesleepfrombaby’seyes?Imustknow。
Shouldn’tIgiveheragoodlessonifIlycatchher!
Iwouldraidherandseewhereshehoardsallherstolensleep。
Iwouldpluall,andcarryithome。
Iwouldbiwowiheronthebankoftheriver,aherplayatfishingwithareedamongtherushesandwater-lilies。
&hemarketiheevening,andthevillagesitihers’laps,thebirdswillmoglydih:
“Whosesleepwillyoustealnow?”