Now I lay me down to sleep

And pray some useful part to keep

Of all the sudden, simple, smart

Ideas that urge my pounding heart

And hurry loudly through my head

The minute I get into bed.

I kick and coil, I surge and yank.

I cannot make my mind a blank.

Too busy planning what I'll do,

Too tired to rise and see it through,

I pray that angels roundabout

Will get a club and knock me out.

If I must lie here wide awake,

And turn until my shoulders ache,

Composing letters, music, plays,

Quite sure that such creation pays,

I pray, when morning hours come,

I may for once remember some.

And every night I pray again,

Awake among all sleeping men,

My prayers be answered, in so far

As worthy. But they never are.