I Am Your Puppet, You Thief Of Sleep

This is an older work. I though it was time to bring this one out.

I Am Your Puppet, You Thief Of Sleep

a poem by Chris T.

My thoughts run through my mind

like a marathon runner who pushes past the wall

Excerpts of today, yesterday and right now

Fill up behind my eyes and push my lids open

 

Up and down and pulsing with frenetic movement

You won’t quit: you 24 hr picture show

I starve you, I exhaust you, I medicate you

But your power over me is complete

 

I exist in a waking dreamland

and an intensely focussed night-time

Your attack on my sleep comes in waves

Like a four-star general’s war plan

 

You drain the enjoyment of my play

Like a faucet that can’t be tightened any more

Drip,drip,dreary

Eyes begin to close while driving

 

I view my world through puffy eyes and illusions

No amount of head shaking and cheek slapping

Can clear your enormous cob-web

I am caught in your effort

 

Oh Insomnia,

In the day, I can hear your siren’s call to my slumber

In the night, you are a lover who wishes just to  fight

Time gets turned on its head

 

I age more rapidly

No nourishment of rest, no replenishment of the day’s efforts

The mirror reflects a stranger

A ghost who I feel I know in my heart, but can’t recognize its features

 

Cruel but cunning is your way

You addict to caffeine and enjoy its ravenous crash

Each day you sew another string to your marionette

lifting each limb with a terrible jerk

 

Great scissors, where are you

The giant pair my mother told me not to run with

Take your leading edge and cut from me my strings

Then the pressure will release and I will softly fall into deep slumber

Author's Note

his is poem about my terrible fight with insomnia. I hope someone out there can relate to this thief of peace. If it ministers to you in any way, please leave a comment.

Reviews

[K.C. Zbryk]

Brilliant description of that condition that robs us of sanity. There have been many a time that I too sought those great sicissors. Great write. Loved the vivid imagry and the entire piece has a magestic flow and rhythm.

[penless writer]

I read this poem after waking from a post insomina battle slumber. Made me laugh.

This also reminds me of an english lesson in my middle school in which a tribe tries to capture an animal called sleep. As it attacks them everynight and drives them unconsious.

Great style as always.

[Coyote Poetry]

I had to learn to meditate to find sleep. My mind always moving and hard to clear head for sleep. I do understand this poem. Lately a good cup of tea. (I prefer coffee) and meditation allow me to find some peace in the night. I like the many thoughts in this poem. Thank you for a excellent poem.
Coyote

[~Blue Fantasy~]

Oh wow!! So true it is! After having my first child this exactly what I went through each night. So very frustrating and miserable. My second child I was better. I guess I didn't worry as much kinda been there done that already. Third child I started sleeping better! Lol who knows maybe I'm so exhausted by the end of the day I could just sleep anywhere! It is funny how things change and how you don't have to have a routine or have to have everything so so. I tell having a third child just somehow relaxes and keeps you extremely busy all at the same time. I love every minute of it! God has blessed me with a loving husband and three beautiful children! In saying all of this I had a horrible time sleeping just like the first part of your poem word for word. You nailed it! But now thank God I sleep very well with the occasion of the little on waking me up at least once a night but it doesn't phase I just sleep with her. Speaking of my little one I wrote a poem for her called "my baby princess". You should read it. It will explain why I'm more relaxed with my third child...she's growing up too fast! :((. They all are! :((((

[FJ Davis]

Don't sleep well--haven't for years. And while I find the inability to fall asleep quite disruptive and, possibly, damaging, the inability to awaken would--I am convinced--trouble me more.
Darkly humorous piece, Chris.
High-level work.

[SoulCrusader (Yas)]

This write really captures it so nicely and poetically...brilliance !!!!

[joshua deathdealer]

Wow this is intense and very well portrayed. Excellent work..xx

[Sleepless]

oh i hate insomnia its os horrible nice pem to capture the horro of insomnia :P