A Love Poem

(with sincere apologies in advance to Elizabeth Barrett Browning)

Sleep: How Do I Love Thee?

How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways:

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

my sleepy body can reach, when I'm so tired

and only long for the giddy feeling of rest you offer.

I love thee to the level that is almost

illegal - day and night.

I love thee openly, I lust for thee;

I love thee wholly, I plan my day around seeing you again;

I love thee with a strength that I used

to use for better things ages ago.

I love the with a love it seems was lost

when I had bear cubs.

It is impossible to have too much of you.

I love thee with every fiber and hair on my furry body.

And, God willing, if these bear cubs should ever leave the den

I shall but love thee even more after that.