Insomnia, impalpable Animal!
Is your love only cerebral?
That you come and are delighted to spy,
Under your evil eye, the man chewing
His sheets, writhing and stewing
With ennui!...Under your black diamond eye.
Tell me: why, in a night without repose,
Rainy like a Sunday, in your lope
To lick us like a dog: Hope
Or Regret keeping watch, close
At our ear throbbing
You speak low...and say nothing?
Why do you always pass
To our parched throats your empty glass
And leave us with our necks contorted,
Tantaluses, drunkards on chimera:
—Bitter dregs or loving philter,
Cool dew or molten lead!—
Insomnia, aren't you a pretty miss?...
Well why, lewd maid,
Do you get us between your hips?
Why fade out on our lips,
Why leave our bed unmade
And...don't get laid?
Why, Pretty-by-night, blooming unclean,
Tis black mask on your face?...
—To complicate golden dreams?...
Aren't you love in space,
The breath of Messalina, exhausted,
But not yet sated!
Insomnia, are you Hysteria