Shadows

The shadows beneath my eyes

Betray the weeks of sleepless nights,

Concerns voiced about my appearance

Have made me all the more haggard.

 

All of a sudden the realm of society

Seems corrupt and beyond my mind,

While the rest of the world sleeps

I remain awake and alert in the darkness.

 

Embarking on my journey

To a dull and dreary life,

Shadows collect and distort my face;

I am no longer recognizable.

 

What lay there in the shadows

Are what is keeping me sane.

 

What lay there in the shadows

Are the memories of pain.

Author's Note

Insomnia + school = poetry? I'll go with it.
Thanks for reading, please leave a review!

**3/19/14: THANK YOU THANK YOU for all of the kind words of support that have been left below, as well as the amount of people who have even glanced over this piece! I appreciate every bit of it.**

Reviews

[Lost, n'MT]

This reminds me of one of many sleepless nights where I never took the pen to paper to write down what I was feeling, but you did so wonderfully in this piece as I spent the majority of teens years and beyond as an insomniac. Again, similar to the last piece I just read... I don't see how one can truly appreciate or fully understand the pain and emotion behind this unless you live the life style and experience it every night. Some of my best writings came out night, and I hope it has been as helpful for you as it had once been for me in the past. The third stanza triggers memories of where I'd look in the mirror 4AM in the morning after hours of insomnia and not be able to recognize the person I saw looking at back at me. Sometimes it was during those hours where I felt "my truest self" for better and for worse.

"What lay there in the shadows

Are what is keeping me sane.



What lay there in the shadows

Are the memories of pain. "

I cannot even begin to describe just how true those words ring to me, and just how intense the emotions you must have had while writing it down as I imagine you've also lived and experienced it. Thank you for sharing this. Besides being extraordinarily well written and expressed, it's comfortable to know there's others out there having these same emotionally powerful thoughts and feelings. While it's been very emotional reading your pieces, it's been an absolutely pleasure to read. From writing perspective, you're talented with collaborating everything together while incorporating your rhymes to where it doesn't feel forced at all and flows naturally to what is already an powerful piece. I am stickler for rhymes as the majority of my writings includes rhymes and what had initially drew me to this type of poetry. I really enjoy your style, and I think you did a phenomenal job capturing the emotion and pain behind this piece while blending it perfectly with your flow and rhyming style. Excellent read, but even more touching as I can most definitely relate to the type of mindset I imagine was required to write this piece. Fantastic piece all around. I hope continue to keep writing and sharing, these pieces are too good to be kept private although I'd completely understand and respect if you chose to as I had eventually reached that point myself.

[Kristen]

Insomnia is a devil, ay? "The third stanza triggers memories of where I'd look in the mirror 4AM in the morning after hours of insomnia and not be able to recognize the person I saw looking at back at me. Sometimes it was during those hours where I felt "my truest self" for better and for worse." That's exactly what I was trying to convey. I'm not sure anyone who hasn't been there could understand. Insomnia may seem like a trivial thing initially, but it can really destroy you.

This piece has been and will probably continue to be the most pain-inducing I've ever written, for whatever reason. Thank you for complimenting my style; it seems that we share quite a similar style, which I had yet to stumble upon until looking at your writing. We all like familiarity perhaps. ;-)

[Lost, n'MT]

Indeed, but in certain ways it can be when you feel most alive. My creative energy tends to be at its peak during the night hours for whatever reason. But it too has its dark side, and unfortunately that is usually the side that can dominate and take over as demons can creep in our minds. I cannot imagine anyone being able to relate unless they truly experience it. There are many who don't see the night hours, let alone experience how intense it can be when the darkness takes control. Like many things, it's a blessing and a curse, but the curse can be far too haunting and overwhelming that its' what you usually end up remembering the most.

I can definitely understand that as some of my darkest hours (pardon the pun) during the night hour. Yes, I find this to be the most enjoyable style to both write and read, and I felt you executed it very well from a writing standpoint, but clearly this piece goes far beyond the writing technique, flow, and rhyme scheme, it's the emotion behind that takes it another level and I understand why you consider it your most pain-inducing piece even though I haven't really all of your poems yet.

You''re welcome, and I agree, it been my pleasure. : )

[JenLyn]

I have terrible insomnia, in fact I was up all night so I know where you're coming from and it's hell to deal with when you have work and or school. I liked the poem a lot, keep it up! :)

[R E Tree]

When I feel emotional about myself I have sleepless nights. Instead of sleeping I weep. I can relate to this as no sleep can affect how you look. It can ruin your face and make it full of tiredness. Your so low in energy you feel can't do anything. This poem expresses it so good it impressed me.

[Daniel Gardner]

Very good poem. This gave me an idea for another poem. Thanks for being an inspiration even if you don't sleep. This is a very descriptive poem that tells a story of what shadows on ones face can reveal. Great job. Second post to this but that means it is really great to read.

[LittleMadGirl]

I've been watching your work for longer time and I have seen a certain development .. You were good but you're getting even better!
Kudos to you!
This was great work

[Shade Teller]

Good job on the poem. I like the rhythm that it has and the imagery that it gives when I read it.

[William Fields Issac]

I think that every body experiences insomnia at least once in their life. Its almost impossible to escape forever. Good Job though

[GunMetal]

Excellently expressed. I could relate well, especially to sleepless nights.

[Infected Rose (aca Appr..]

I can totally relate to this, I feel where the sadness comes from =).

I like it :D. Good Job

[Haifa]

Sad.. but great job.

[itsjustme]

hmm very sad. i suppose we all have those nights of burning guilt or hurt, playing and replaying the situation at hand. asking ourselves, what did i do?