Twice I awoke this night, and went br to the window. The streetlamps were br a fragment of a sentence spoken in sleep, br leading to nothing, like omission points, br affording me no comfort and no cheer. br I dreamt of you, with child, and now, br having lived so many years apart from you, br experienced my guilt, and my hands, br joyfully stroking your belly, br found they were fumbling at my trousers br and the light-switch. Shuffling to the window, br I realized I had left you there alone, br in the dark, in the dream, where patiently br you waited and did not blame me, br when I returned, for the unnatural br interruption. For in the dark br that which in the light has broken off, lasts; br there we are married, wedded, we play br the two-backed beast; and children br justify our nakedness. br On some future night you will again br come to me, tired, thin now, br and I shall see a son or daughter, br as yet unnamed -- this time I'll br not hurry to the light-switch, nor br will I remove my hand; because I've not the right br to leave you in that realm of silent br shadows, before the fence of days, br falling into dependence from a reality br containing me -- unattainable.