In a shroud of wonder!

Wat is die slaap ‘n wondersoete ding! Sag op haar bloue oë daal die vaak soos maneskyn diep waterkuile raak om daar te droom in silwer skemering. & DF Malherbe

My naakte siel wil sonder skrome in alle eenvoud tot jou gaan, soos uit diepe slaap ons drome, soos teen skemerlug die bome opreik na die bloue maan; gaan met al sy donker wense, en die heilige, nooit-gehoorde dinge sê, waarvoor die mense huiwer, en wat om die grense flikker van my duister woorde. & NP van Wyk Louw

O soft embalmer of the still midnight, Shutting, with careful fingers and benign, Our gloom-pleas'd eyes, embower'd from the light, Enshaded in forgetfulness divine: O soothest Sleep! if so it please thee, close In midst of this thine hymn my willing eyes, Or wait the amen, ere thy poppy throws Around my bed its lulling charities. & Keats

Golden slumbers kiss your eyes, Smiles awake when you rise. Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry, And I will sing a lullaby. Rock them, rock them, lullaby. & Thomas Dekker

& Tortelduifie sit in die eikebo-oom Sing die lied van sy lewensdro-oom Koe-er, tortelduifie, koer, Tortelduifie by die waterstroom! & Tortelduifie sit in die eikebo-oom Sing die lied van my lewensdro-oom Koe-er, tortelduifie, koer, Tortelduifie by die waterstroom!

“roses are red my love violets are blue sugar is sweet my love but not sweeter than you

& The soul of sweet delight can never be defil’d &

}i{ Love is like a butterfly As soft and gentle as a sigh The multi-coloured moods of love Are like its satin wings

“The faery beam upon you, The stars to glister on you; A moon of light In the noon of night!

And I shut her wild sad eyes So kissed to sleep Sleep tight gentle darling

* ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are! Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky.

Baby, O baby, fain you are for bed, Magpie to mopoke busy as the bee; The little red calf's in the snug cow-shed, An' the little brown bird's in the tree. ~ δ ~ Louis Esson

Full many a gem of purest ray serene The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear: Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air. ʯ Thomas Gray

Sleep, sleep, beauty bright,
Dreaming in the joys of night;
Sleep, sleep; in thy sleep,
Little sorrows sit and weep.

Sweet babe, in thy face
Soft desires I can trace,
Secret joys and secret smiles,
Little pretty infant wiles.

As thy softest limbs I feel,
Smiles as of the morning steal
O'er thy cheek, and o'er thy breast
Where thy little heart doth rest.

O the cunning wiles that creep
In thy little heart asleep!
When thy little heart doth wake,
Then the dreadful night shall break.

William Blake &&

Asleep! O sleep a little while, white pearl!
And let me kneel, and let me pray to thee,
And let me call Heaven's blessing on thine eyes,
And let me breathe into the happy air,
That doth enfold and touch you all about,
Vows of my slavery, my giving up,
My sudden adoration, my great love!

& Keats