Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing,
Beloved from pole to pole!
To Mary Queen the praise be given!
She sent the gentle sleep from Heaven,
That slid into my soul.

In Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," the mariner's invocation of sleep reflects a pivotal moment of redemption and relief. After enduring profound suffering and spiritual desolation following his thoughtless act of killing the albatross, the mariner experiences a transformative change. This moment of rest signifies the beginning of his spiritual rejuvenation. He attributes this blessing of sleep to divine intervention, specifically to "Mary Queen," a symbol of grace and compassion. The mariner's newfound appreciation for sleep as "a gentle thing" from "pole to pole" marks his reconnected sense of humanity and humility. This restful reprieve is a metaphor for forgiveness and the easing of guilt that allows him to reconnect with the natural world and, ultimately, with his faith. By recognizing the sanctity of all life, the mariner starts his journey towards healing and reconciliation.