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Emily Dickinson's Collected Poems

Part Four: Time and Eternity 38. Sleep is supposed to be

Sleep is supposed to be,

By souls of sanity,

The shutting of the eye.


Sleep is the station grand

Down which on either hand

The hosts of witness stand!


Morn is supposed to be,

By people of degree,

The breaking of the day.


Morning has not occurred!

That shall aurora be

East of eternity;


One with the banner gay,

One in the red array, --

That is the break of day.