As I lay me down

And as I lay me down to sleep
I wonder if my soul will keep
Or take the chance of winged flight
Returning with the morning light

Escaping these bare mortal realms
For vision wild that overwhelms
The chance for sense to ever make
So if I die before I wake

Then know it was in dreaming I
Was freed and finally learned to fly
Unfettered both from hate and love
Towards the cold stars high above

Should you care, then might you pray
My heart unlearns to want to stay
Beholden; t’is undignified
If I must go I should have tried

To learn to love just me alone
The more I live, so more am shown
It’s bad to need for needing’s sake
Shut down the dream and come awake

I’ll raise a shining castle built
To keep my heart protected, gilt
Safe in slumber, e’er in peace
No more riven, and there decease.