Not to sleep all the night long, for pure joy, br Counting no sheep and careless of chimes br Welcoming the dawn confabulation br Of birch, her children, who discuss idly br Fanciful details of the promised coming - br Will she be wearing red, or russet, or blue, br Or pure white? - whatever she wears, glorious: br Not to sleep all the night long, for pure joy, br This is given to few but at last to me, br So that when 1 laugh and stretch and leap from bed br I shall glide downstairs, my feet brushing the carpet br In courtesy to civilized progression, br Though, did 1 wish, I could soar through the open window br And perch on a branch above, acceptable ally br Of the birds still alert, grumbling gently together.