It is so peaceful on the ceiling!
It is the Place de la Concorde.
The little crystal chandelier
is off, the fountain is in the dark.
Not a soul is in the park.

Below, where the wallpaper is peeling,
the Jardin des Plantes has locked its gates.
Those photographs are animals.
The mighty flowers and foliage rustle;
under the leaves the insects tunnel.

We must go under the wallpaper
to meet the insect-gladiator,
to battle with a net and trident,
and leave the fountain and the square
But oh, that we could sleep up there....

Added: on April 21st, 2006 at 4:31 AM | Viewed: 2784 times | Comments (1)

Poet: Elizabeth Bishop
Poem: Sleeping On The Ceiling
Volume: North & South
Year: Published/Written in 1946
Poem of the Day on:
Mar 15 2004

Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Sleeping On The Ceiling, has received one comment so far. Click here to read it, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Elizabeth Bishop with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!