On wings of Sleep

On wings of sleep

I dreamt I flew

Across the valley drenched in dew

Over the roof tops

Into the forest

Swooping low

Where the Sambhur belled

And the peacocks flew

And the dawn broke

Rose-pink behind the mountains

And the river ran silver and gold

As I glided over the trees

Drifting with the dawn breeze

Across the river

Over fields of corn

And the world awoke

To a new day, a new dawn

Time to fly home

As the sun rose, red and angry

Ready to singe my wings

I returned to my sleeping form

Creaking bed and dusty window pane

To dream of flying with the wind again.

---Ruskin Bond