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Monday, June 22, 2009

Insomnia

This is what caused it.



If I could no longer read or write,
I would speak my grocery list to the heavens
And shop at twilight in an open air market,
Looking to the sky to see
If I needed milk or peas
As though the stars were letters on an inky blue page.

The leaves above would serve as my abacus.
Adding the smiles of my grandchildren
To subtract the worry lines on my face.
The notes of the birds' songs
Heard through the open window at daybreak
Would make the need of sheet music obsolete.

If I could no longer read or write,
I would compose my love a letter
With soft fingers inscribing my devotion and trust on his skin.
And the warm gaze of his eyes into mine
Would be the only romance novel
To have a place on my bedside stand.

~Susan D~

26 comments:

Sandy aka Doris the Great said...

How beautiful! Did you really write that yourself? Ohhhh, I feel jealous -- and then happy that you shared it with us. Absolutely beautiful!

Susan said...

Sandy, thank you so much! It is so unlike me to share anything that I create, but this past year of writing a blog has opened me up somewhat. And, yes, I was tossing and turning this morning at 5 a.m. and the first lines came to me and I had to get up and write it down or lose it. The rest came within minutes. A fluke, really.

California Girl said...

Beautiful and romantic. If I could create poetry instead of anxiety when I can't sleep, I wouldn't mind the insomnia.

Susan said...

Thank you, Cali Girl! Believe me, this is not normal for me. I have no idea where it came from.

cindy said...

That is amazing and beautiful! Even more fascinating that you don't know where it came from... your inner voice has spoken! You must feel a lot better getting that out. You should sleep like a baby tonight!

Susan said...

Cindy, you're so sweet! I hope it helps me sleep, because after composing a letter at midnight to a friend I let slip through the cracks and then waking up to this at daybreak, I need the ZZZZZZ's!

Char said...

gorgeous - a beautiful write

Susan said...

Thank you, sweet Char!

Ruth said...

What a surprise and joy. You reveal more of your beautiful self - your heart, your love of your family and your husband, and for words.

This reminds me of a poem I wrote 15 years ago called "Night Poems" about how sometimes poems come through the night and bore a hole in your brain. You try to quickly get up and switch on the light to write them down before they escape.

Susan said...

Thank you, Ruthie. I'm still not sure I'm comfortable with everyone seeing this, but I thought it might be worthy of posting (the jury is still out).

I'd like to read your poem. I'm sure it captures the way I was feeling this morning.

VioletSky said...

...words fail me.

Thank goodness you can read and write. This is so beautifully descriptive. And so positive!

Susan said...

Sanna, thank you very much. I am humbled by your kindness and support.

alaine@éclectique said...

Susan, that is really lovely. Quite often our best ideas come to us when we're in repose. Hope you get some sleep tonight! Or, perhaps, come up with another beauty!

CottageGirl said...

Lovely, Susan! You have a hidden talent that you should nurture!

Susan said...

Alaine, I'm so glad that you enjoyed my poem. It is now tomorrow and I slept like a baby last night! Got all those deep thoughts out of my head, I guess. :)

Susan said...

CG, thank you very much. I don't think I could sit down and try to write poetry. That one just came to me in a flash. Here's to more flashes! And I don't mean hot ones!

GailO said...

I'm so glad you shared this with us Susan...it is beautiful and heartwarming...insomnia never looked so good!

Susan said...

Thank you, Oliag. I don't know why I wasn't being inspired all those other sleepless nights I've had!

JackeeG4glamorous said...

Wow. That's about all I can say, Wow. You are hiding your talents from all us "nets"....How are you going to top this one tomorrow?

Susan said...

Jackee, thank you. You are too kind. Don't worry, I'm back to my same goofy self now! :D

PeacefulWmn9 said...

This is as beautiful as any work of art I have seen in ages, a lovely word painting!

Susan said...

Karen, I can't think of any nicer compliment! Thank you so much!

tipper said...

WOW-you are a talented poet!

Susan said...

Thank you, Tipper!

ds said...

Ah, a fellow insomniac! But you have a beautifully poetic way of expressing it--thank you! (love the blog--a belated Happy 4th to you, as well).

Susan said...

ds, thank you for your compliments and for stopping by. I hope you will come back for visits now and then.

Yes, I've been an insomniac for as long as I've been an adult. It's a family curse!