The Dead Marshes- a sestina

Now I lay me down to sleep
Near the river that runs wide
Only company I keep
Lives in the dreams that I hide
Where people walk in the deep
And share what they hold inside

I never could stay inside
When the silence runs too deep
Or when shadows open wide
Shrouding me in lasting sleep
Or so I fear and so hide
On the road that traveler’s keep

I carry all that I keep
Walking the road parted wide
Daytime musings replace sleep
Peace of mind wells up inside
Joy comes forth from way down deep
And so I need not to hide

There are few places to hide
In the world we dream in sleep
What we bury down inside
Comes to life in dreams we keep
Better then to leave eyes wide
And avoid that slumber deep

People walking in the deep,
The monsters they hold inside
Are the enemies of sleep
But there is no place to hide;
So to protect what we keep
Toss it in the river wide

Walk along the river wide
See the people in the deep
Unknowingly trapped inside
Their own dark, tormenting sleep
When Death comes, no one can hide
None can pray their soul to keep

What’s inside is what we keep
The deep holds no place to hide
Eyes wide always close for Sleep