SLEEPING ON THE SURFACE

The folding together of her body
among pillows, sheets, blankets
like petals that close at night.
Dark sky looks down and sets the stage
for dormancy, unconsciousness
sinking into absence of surrounding
cosmos, earth, humanity, physical objects.
She slept on the surface and avoided
an invasion of deep sepia dreams.
Too tired to sleep, too tired to face intrusion.
So she folded herself into a protective
form void of motion.
She knew she slept a dreamless sleep
on the surface, safe from a malevolent
quagmire beneath.