1 minute read
Advice on Nighttime Caregiving
K now the bulk of night will be sleepless and embrace it with the wear iest par t of yourself.
Nothing but bitter tea will do, steeped too long as you pour another glass of water
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another mouth will dr ink, as you console another cr ying child who values sleep
on dif ferent ter ms, as you — deep in the black hour when familiar constellations
wend into a strange topography — walk the dog who will thank you without lang uage: she who eats
white clover by night, snif fling through dark grass sweetened with dew.
Now sleep or wake — let go of what you hold. T he untouched tea is as cool as mor ning.
— Benjamin Cutler
Benjamin Cutl er is th e recipi ent of th e Su san L aught er Me y ers Po et s Fell o wship an d th e auth or of T he G e ese W ho Mig ht b e Go ds.
