Absence Of Absence

Waking from sleep
I know —
In sleep there was absence
Of all — of this world

I, myself — that knows now
This world, universe, and my body
Was absent

I, as I am now
Perceiver and all perceived
Was absent

And yet the perceiver
Right now — is already absent
And could not
Go absent — during sleep

Is it not —
That what’s absent in sleep
Is the absence of presence
Of what now is already absent —
Absence

So I can never be sure
Whether I am present or absent
Waking or in sleep

And when the referent
Of I
Is itself unknowable
As present or absent

Then on what ground
Is anything known