Anna Jackson: Virgil at Bedtime

There are glow-in-the-dark stars
on the ceiling which probably
won't peel off. And yes, there are
two gates of sleep, sweetheart,
it is not just in the morning
you have to be careful what side
of the bed you choose,
there are choices to make
day and night,
and for the rest of your life.
And the ivory gate is glittering
but not smiling at you,
it is just the way it is shaped
like the mouth of a crocodile
opening wide,
offering futures like vistas,
dreams that will
eat you up.
No, the other gate is the gate
to choose, sweetheart,
and your dreams, if you dream,
will be safe as houses
and won't bankrupt you at all -
you just have to be dead
to go through.