But Sleep Won't Come

Tom Dylan

Lying in the dark room

eyes closed, waiting for the lull of sleep

my mind races

random worries about future events

and nagging thoughts about the now

 

did I lock the front door?

is the hob turned off?

Embarrassing incidents

from a decade ago

replay and haunt my exhausted mind.

 

My mind is like a television set

that will not switch off

despite the plug being pulled,

the volume is loud

enough to keep me awake.

 

I roll onto my side

tutting, huffing, stuffing the pillow

up under my head

slowing my breathing 

 

and then it happens

sleep comes to me

the visiting angel,

the night breeze 

ruffling her feathers.

 

The needle of sleep

drifts through my grooves,

I give in, dancing to its tune,

unclenching my fists.

 

Then the morning alarm goes off

and feeling more tired than

when I went to bed

I get up and head

for the shower.

 

 

  • Author: Tom Dylan (Offline Offline)
  • Published: April 30th, 2024 08:09
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 25
  • User favorite of this poem: Accidental Poet.
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Comments8

  • Buttercup

    Nice one. It's extremely relatable

    • Tom Dylan

      Thanks for your comments. I couldn't sleep the other night and tried to get it down in a poem. Cheers, Tom.

    • orchidee

      It can help if we tell ourselves when getting into bed 'There's nothing more we can do about x, y, z, whatever until tomorrow; so just for now I will get to sleep'.
      Getting enough hours sleep too?

      • Tom Dylan

        Thanks, Orchi. Appreciate your comments. 🙂

      • Bella Shepard

        I've had many a night like this, and you describe it perfectly. Good one!!

        • Tom Dylan

          Thanks a lot, Bella. Appreciated. 🙂

        • Doggerel Dave

          As you have written Tom...Know it as well as you have described it which is too well.
          Only solution for me, when it works, which is sometimes, l almost physically block all thought (real effort involved) and focus on the patterns appearing against closed eyelids...

          • Tom Dylan

            Thanks, Dave. Appreciate your comments. I tried to get down the pain of not being able to sleep. Cheers, Tom. 🙂

          • Goldfinch60

            Those nights happen Tom when you have something on your mind which stops you sleeping, but sleep will come eventually.

            Andy

            • Tom Dylan

              Cheers, Andy. Thanks a lot for your comments. Thanks, Tom.

            • Neville


              Been there, done that and wore the mattress out .. just be sure you are not alone .. Neville

              • Tom Dylan

                Cheers, mate. Really appreciated. 🙂

              • Accidental Poet

                A story I know so well Tom. Seems like hours you lie there awake. Then all of a sudden you wake up and realize that you did finally get to sleep. But now you have to get up for work. Sometimes when I can't sleep I'll get on the computer and here in MPS. An hour and a half later I'll go back to bed. Usually works for me. 👍

                • Tom Dylan

                  That's exactly it, AP. I must have eventually drifted off, as I wake up in the morning. I usually try listening to the radio, talk radio, on low and try to nod off. Cheers, Tom.

                • Thomas W Case

                  Very relatable. I hate nights like that.

                  • Tom Dylan

                    Thanks, Thomas. Those nights seem to last for ever. Cheers, Tom.



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