The Sleepless Nights

Let all the nights be torn
from within us.
Ignoring the weeping of trees,
let every leaf and branch be burned.
When children come singing songs of love,
let their voices be silenced forever.

Then, from among us
these uprooted nights
will walk toward death,
scattering seeds through the entire forest.

In our courtyards
instead of sunlight
some dead, unripe voices will play—
voices whose murder weighs on our shoulders.

Tear the nights
from our hearts,
wring out the forests,
drive away the birds.
Then watch—
your mornings will surely lose themselves
searching for our nights.