Hercules and his Twelve Labors

Fighting Sleep Part I

And Somnus god of sleep and dreams
Descends to nightly rest now deem.
On men who've toiled the hours away
He brings them sleep to cease the day.

Thus granting folk their nightly rest
By pulling sparkling soot from vest.
And sprinkling dust in eyes of man
For each a palm of magic sand.

That sends them down to darkest sleep
And bids them go to slumber deep.
"For half their lives I'll own these man
And none may know my cryptic plan.

Where goes their souls in slumber deep
Inside the realm I claim as keep.
When leaving fief of sleeping god
Through river Lethe must mortals trods

And wash away there dreadful thoughts
Of all the task from men I've sought.
Unknown if god of sleep is cruel
When all is washed away by pool.

That lies in depth of nether realm
That's cloak by deepest shadow helm.
But kindness sleep may also bring
From hand of nightly dreaming king.

So men still rest at eve of day
In hopes I have a gentle way.
And take their souls with benign care
To realm where might of god is bare.

But hope has only heighten dread
When souls to god of sleep are fed.
If men for certain knew my crimes
They'd accept their fate with peace sublime.

As evil born from mortal need
To sentence trod without a plea.
And certain doom would calm their soul
For dreadful chore would mortals know.

But hope in peaceful rest has stole
That calm that certain fate bestows.
For sleep reprieve from world may bring
Inside the mortals nightly dream.

Or torment men with dreadful sight
That breaks their will at hopeless plight.
So calm despair and joyful hope
Are both now ban to help them cope.

With nightly journey down to realm
Where eldritch forces over whelm.
For dark unknowing purpose sake
Reminding men of final fate.

For Orcus brother close and dear
The god of death that mortals fear.
Does also grant uncertain end
When down to Hades mortals send.

Thus men and gods both fear my ways
But still they sandman's debt must pay.
And grant me half their living hours
By giving selves to Somnus powers."

So God of sleep his subjects takes
With little care for mortals sake.
And grants them neither good nor bad.
A hope for nightly sleep be had.

Then finds he strangest man now laid
In open field of sunkissed glade.
With pelt of lion as meager cloak
And face of iron will unbroke.

In hand he clutches wooden rod
And bears himself as demi-god.
The king of dreams does draw yet nigh
To look at hero's armor hide.

Then up he leaps and club does swing
And puts to rest the god of dreams.