at 3 a.m. I run my tonguearound my teeth (take in a breath)(give out a breath) take one more stepapproaching death. my teeth are firmand hard and white (take in a breath)incisors bite and molars grind(give out a breath) the body lyingnext to mine is sweet and warmI 've heard that worms (take in a breath)don 't really eat (give out a breath)the coffin meat of human kindand if they did I wouldn't mindthat 's what I heard (take in a breath)(and just in time) I think it 's alla pack of lies. I know my fleshwill end in slime. the streets are meanand full of thieves. the children inthe sleeping rooms (give out a breath)walk narrowly upon my heartthe animal beneath the clothsubmerged rises to any baitof lust or fury, love or hate(take in a breath) my orbic skullis eminently frangibleso delicate a shell to keepmy brains from spillage. still my breathgoes in and out and nearer death
and yet I seem to get to sleep
