Slumber
Slumber
by John Hansen © 2016
As sleep creeps up so stealthily
At first, I’m not aware.
Blinking eyes, a nodding head,
Slight slumping in my chair.
Trying valiantly to stay awake
I attempt to fight it off,
But slumber’s a persistent thing
And knows that I am soft.
Its determined efforts won’t let up,
All struggles are in vain,
This adversary won’t give up,
My fight begins to wane.
My tired eyes flutter, then they close
And fog enshrouds my mind.
Reluctantly I accept defeat,
Leave the waking world behind.
I lie there still, in quiet repose,
My fight’s been fought and lost.
Scattered dreams they come and go,
But what’s the final cost?
I stir at times, my eyelids twitch,
As horrors take control,
Attacking me within my dreams,
As they try to steal my soul.
Those nightmares trapped with my mind
Were just waiting to be freed,
That’s why I fear the world of sleep
As the terrors come to feed.
Dreams and Nightmares
I have read that the accomplished author Stephen King’s ideas for his novels mostly come to him in dreams. Having read many of his books I’d say that they must have been nightmares. But whether dreams or nightmares, what a wonderful largely untapped minefield of stories is there for authors if we could just all remember these and write them down before the memory fades.
Now I find myself branching out and experimenting with short fiction, and thoroughly enjoying this, especially flash fiction.
I have been fortunate to have two poems made into songs and recorded. The first "On the Road to Kingdom Come" by Al Wordlaw, and the second, "If I Could Write a Love Poem" by award-winning Israeli/British singer Tally Koren.
My services increasingly in demand as a freelance writer and I have ghost-written the text for a number of children's books and educational tutorials.
It has taken me many years of searching and restlessness to realise that my life's passion is to write. It saddens me that I wasted so many years not devoting to that, but thinking positively, the experiences gained over those years are now wonderful material for my stories and poems.
I want to try to bring a new focus on poetry and try to make it appealing to a new generation of young people and those who thought they never liked or understood it before.
- The First Word – A Flash Fiction Story - January 18, 2024
- Dawns Song ~ and Twilight Serenade - December 1, 2023
- Weave Me a Story - June 15, 2023
I love this poem, John. You drew me right along, fighting the battle to not slumber then slipping into dreams. Very well expressed. I agree with you about tapping the minefield of our dreams for poetry and stories. A lot of my writing comes from my dreams. When a writer can pull the reader right into the experience, feel the mind and body change to become part of the poem, that is the work of a master – and you do achieve that. Well done.
Thank you for the encouraging comment, Phyllis. It’s great that you can tap into your dreams for subjects to write about. I used to remember a lot of my dreams and write them down as soon as I woke…lately not so much. I appreciate your kind words.
Great surprise in this one John. I thought you were just going to be talking about how we older folks can’t stay awake! lol Love surprises, good job!
I always like to give my readers a little surprise if possible, Jackie. Glad you enjoyed this.
Love it. I always fall asleep when I put in a DVD. Once I even fell asleep during an action flick at the movie theater with dolby surround sound. What a waste of Ten bucks. Clever and fun poem.
Thanks, Lori. I can sure relate to falling asleep watching movies. I remember one particular movie I wanted to watch.. but I fell asleep. Hired the DVD to watch again, and went to sleep in exactly the same spot again.
I’m right there with you, John. But I probably don’t have the fight you do. I’m ready to just bring it on. What a nice piece to read before bed.
Thanks for reading, William. This is mostly hypothetical, though I do fall asleep easily.. I don’t have trouble with nightmares.
Nicely penned John, and the rhyming scheme pumping it along as sleep turns to nightmares. Love the pic too. Great work
Thanks, Tony. Much appreciated.
Outstanding! I just hate that when I know slumber will bring horrors. thank God it normally is not the case.
Thank you Eric. I rarely have to worry about it either, but I know people who do.
This is the stuff! You have a way with rhythm and rhyme. This was done so well. Jamie
Thanks, Jamie. You are just too kind.