I imagined br rain casting bows br cross your sleep struck neck, br you tossed and sighed br heavy skin to bitter winter- br Your shoulders slender and spent, br you held up the world br and it gave you exhaustion. br br The days were long then, br they came at us with jagged teeth br disguised behind the make-up of spring- br br We were worn in those days, br so we made love to invoke sleep- br and in the wake br you'd recite stories and poems br for effect - br I remember: br you were always on adventure, br delving into foreign lands br where only your mind could take you- br and I was always going home, br tied to an umbilical cord and hair br that sprung from the roots of mother- br br Then after you extinguished br the day's final cigarette, br you'd roll over and extinguish yourself- br br and while I'd lay limp and lonely at your side, br I realized: br there is nothing you can do in this life, br no commitment or companionship you could offer br that would free me br - br so I turn from the sound br of your lungs heaving, br to the twilight just beyond br and find myself br in the spaces between silence and stars- br br In these tortured thoughts br I'd rest, eyes unblinking and focused br on the deep purple of universe- br I know br sleep cannot comfort dreamers.