While The World Sleeps

A personal, and relatable account on what lack of steady sleep, and being up all night, is like. This subject blossoms and extends into many other areas as the poem progresses.

While the worlds sleeps,

terror waits just around the bend.

While the world sleeps,

us, the others, we wait for our world to end.

While the world sleeps,

we think of more.

While the world sleeps,

we do not slumber or snore.

While the world sleeps,

we let the pain finally seep in.

While the world sleeps,

us, the others, the ones who dare to be different, we wait for our end.

While the world sleeps,

we question life.

While the world sleeps,

we wonder what kind

of people we will be later on,

if we ever live that long.

While the world sleeps,

we stay awake.

While the world sleeps,

we...we explore...and suffer.

While the world sleeps,

we wonder why it hates us so.

While the world sleeps,

we try to let that hate go,

we try to let it just fade from our minds,

we try to be “civilized”.

But how can we let it go?

How can we let it go

when every day, every single day, it shows us that we were right.

It hates us so.

We feel as though no one cares,

and that they are unaware

and do not understand the pain their words cause.

But we let it go.

While the world sleeps,

 we waste away.

Night by night,

we lose a little bit more of ourselves.

We lose a bit of that bright-eyed child

that we used to be.

No, we never will be that again.

And even if we could,

even if, my some miracle, we could,

the world would tear us apart all over again.

While the world sleeps,

we die inside, slowly.

We cover up our true selves,

we cover up who we are,

and just fade away

because who we want to be

does not meet the quote that others have set for us!

And it hurts...why wouldn’t it?

Dreams die, fears multiply,

and as I said...we die inside.

Day by day, we live in a world that laughs at pain...

and promotes cruelty.

So, we should savor the world’s sleep.

During that time we are alone,

it cannot hurt us then.

But being alone...well, it makes you lonely.

And when you are sad and down,

loneliness is only a stimulant

towards actions

that may lead to our downfall...

Our self-inflicted downfall...

While the world sleeps,

we are nothing but awake.

For some of us, it is disorders.

Others simply just have trouble sleeping.

Some do not want to sleep

because their dreams are so haunting.

Nightmares...filled with death, looking bleak.

Cheering on our suicidal tendencies.

“Die!” They seem to chant “Die!”, and our ears feel

as if they may bleed.

While the world sleeps,

in that stillness

our minds are always on the move. Always.

We have to think, to stop the darkness from

driving us insane.

We take all of our inner pain

and mend our inner scars.

We tend to our own injuries.

We become amateur surgeons,

not sure of what we are doing.

We have to heal though.

In some way.

If we don’t, we may die,

leaving our hearts to decay.

While the world sleeps,

we do so many things.

While the world sleeps,

we ask “What if?”

What if I was someone else?

What if I had done this differently?

What if something hadn’t been as bad as it was,

would I be in this much pain?

They are sad questions,

with no real answers.

I am sorry, but it is so.

Actually...no.

I am not sorry for telling you the truth.

So many in this world will tell you

optimistic lies.

They try to mask cruelty

and disguise

the real world. They want you to be

that bright-eyed child

that they forced to grow up.

They want you to be weak. Gullible.

While the world sleeps,

we grow to hate it.

Not because of nature,

 but because of people.

I would say people’s nature,

but it is not that way.

People are taught how to act; how to behave.

By others, who were also manipulated in this way.

Oh, while the world sleeps,

we are awakened.

We are enlightened.

But of course, we do horrible things too.

We sometimes add to the world’s cruelty.

We unintentionally harm others.

Well, it’s not always unintentionally.

We have motives.

We have dark natures and desires,

which sometimes twist us apart

and cause evil things to transpire

within our hearts.

WE break hearts.

We hurt the people we care about.

We cannot hide from this.

No, we cannot hide from what we have done,

or what we have become.

No, to do this we would have to lie to ourselves

and force ourselves to believe that it is true,

though we never would.

We...we are the world’s children.

A product of morals, teachings, experience, and pain.

Plenty of pain.

It comes in many forms.

But we always find a way to carry on, even with great pain.

So, while the world sleeps,

let’s at least try to make it a better place.

Maybe, if we suffer,

others won’t have to.

Let’s look at it that way.

While the world sleeps,

let’s try to make this coming day

a better day,

for ourselves and others.

While the world sleeps,

we should either try and ignore the pain,

or try and find a way to drive it away.

And maybe one day, our own bright-eyed children

will be forced to face the world,

and their innocence may be taken from them.

But we have to hope and dream,

that even though we can no longer be one of those

bright-eyed children,

there will be more of them

that will have a better chance

of making this world feel like it is a true home

than we ever did.

The chances are slim,

but we should have least offer that chance to them.

We will continue to think of these things

while the world sleeps.

Yes...while the world sleeps.

Author's Note

I would be open to any criticism, harsh or otherwise. We always need criticism, in order to grow and become better at what we do.