you know I slept br twenty years br and woke to find br all things changed br br br when I sleep now, br though only a few hours br each night, br I wonder br if it had not been better br if I had slept forever br br br I had not known br trouble in my long sleep; br and I was not bewildered br by a world br that is strange and distant br though I move in it all day long br br br I had not known br any care or worry; br nor had I to think where br my next meal was to come from br or hang over things like br what today’s contemporaries br fret about: br things like retirement funds br and aged care; and a will br that will be ample and fair br br br I had not known br people of strange ways br when I slept; br I had not to condone br the conceited and those whose br only concern is self-interest; br and men and women of twisted emotion br and hell-bent on murder and blood br and lust; br and a lawn that must be trimmed br br br and in my bear-sleep br I had no encounter br with the fool, the arrogant, the ambitious br and the tyrant and the greedy; br all I knew in my long sleep br was quiet, oblivion and bliss br and so I ask myself often br as I sit in the shade of the tree: br I wonder br if it had not been better br if I had slept forever?br br Raj Arumugambr br