Elizabeth Bishop – July 20 , Iyengar II

For the early birds (an insomniacs), next time I can’t sleep I’ll be imagining Central Park!

Sleeping on the Ceiling

It is so peaceful on the ceiling!

It is the Place de la Concorde.

The little crystal chandelier

is off, the fountain is in the dark.

Not a soul is in the park.

Below, where the wallpaper is peeling,

the Jardin des Plantes has locked its gates.

Those photographs are animals.

The mighty flowers and foliage rustle;

under the leaves the insects tunnel.

We must go under the wallpaper

to meet the insect-gladiator,

to battle with a net and trident,

and leave the fountain and the square.

But oh, that we could sleep up there….