The Book of Fives

137

Wakeful

"Beggars! These five sleep little and are highly alert.
What five?

A woman yearning for a man sleeps little and is highly alert.

A man yearing for a woman sleeps little and is highly alert.

A thief on the prowl for loot sleeps little and is highly alert.

A king bent on conquest sleeps little and is highly alert.

A Beggar determined to attain freedom from the bonds sleeps little and is highly alert.

Indeed, Beggars, these five sleep little and are highly alert.