When the alien arms of darkness steal
the day away, there’s a silent ticking
in the night
Blood pulsating in my head
the sheep continue grazing
I will not count
trying to switch off my thoughts
yet the very act of doing so
makes it worse, trying to think
of not thinking
Even saying I can do this, defeats
the task at hand
The crunching of the pillows
the toss of sheets
crumpled at my feet
The arms of night pick me up
the devil wants it’s way
throwing me about my bed
I walk, pace the house, stare out
windows into night, gaze at stars
street lights
Listen to crackling wind
as it punctures trees
Sometimes I read,
encouraging
my weariness
enough to dream
The clock continues ticking
with eyelids closed the
polychromatic colours
filter like snowflakes
It will not come as needed
my sleep, my rest this night
too many thoughts that race
Too much time wasted
wishing to know nothing
copyright JMTacken 8.5.2014
Ramblings From A Mum 
You raise some interesting issues about sleep and our lack of it when our bodies just don’t want to shut down. Well done Jenny, I enjoyed this poem as I connect well to it.
I think many of us can Michael and right now I am so tired, falling asleep on the couch for an hour and a half, this is something I NEVER do. I hope tonight that stealing devil leaves me alone. Thank you for reading and connecting, I hope you sleep also.
I’ll answer this quietly incase you’ve dropped off and just say well done. I think a lot of people will identify with this.
Thank you my friend, I was already in bed when this came through. Something many of us suffer with sadly 😦
Unfortunately
I hear your pain too 😦
ugh. i feel you. the last week, sleep has been coming at a premium trying to get my stuff done for grad school…too much going on between the ears….
now that’s a good line, we seem to cram more and more between our ears, it is impossible to let it go. I hope you find some rest soon and good luck with the workload ~ smiles.
I am so sorry about the lack of sleep, Jen. I know how badly your overworked body needs it right now. Have you ever tried melatonin? I take it almost every night. Sometimes I still wake up early, but I usually feel rested at least. Back to the poem…loved it and I could definitely relate.😕
Thanks hun, no I haven’t tried it. I have tried so many herbal concoctions, but they don’t work on me. I now take an anti histamine in small doses, when I know I need to ‘pass out’ basically, that’s another habit, waking early, but as we get older that is going to happen more and more. 😦 have a I groaned enough yet? 😦 xx
I sleep well but a time or two in my life I have experience sleepless nights. You have captured the restlessness and torment of praying for sleep spot on. Brilliant. ❤ ~(*_*)~~
Oh you are lucky to have only experienced it once or twice Tess, thank you so much and may you continue to sleep well ❤ x
Hope you catch a few good ones yourself. ~(*_*)~~
That I did hun, with a little help, 12 hours straight…semi normal once again 🙂 xx
like you, i have trouble sleeping at times, especially when something is on my mind. there is no shutting it off as much as i’d like to. i’ve come to the point where i don’t toss and turn anymore, just go with it and get up and do something, until i am tired enough again to sleep. bad news is, that’s usually right when it’s time for me to get up! )
I hear you sweety, we toss & turn, walk, try, finally when we are tired enough to crash, then the alarm rings it’s joyful tune….I hope that you sleep well tonight & many more nights Beth ❤ xx
Then comes the morning – and it interrupts that final, blissful sleep… Oh, yes.
How true that is, thank you so much for popping in and reading may the sleep be with you 🙂
Well done Jen. Capturing the illusiveness of sleep on the run. 😉
Thank you hun, today I am totally exhausted. My eyes sting, looking at the glare from the IPad..but I shall soldier on to read & comment..oh such a martyr am I .. Good grief. 🙂 ❤ xx
You are a dam fine woman! ❤
Martyr and all 😉 thank you sweetheart ❤ x
OH! those dreadful hours when sleep evades us mercilessly not careing how we beg to be set free into oblivion!
How wonderfully put lovely. I do do a lot of begging! Hugs and sweet dreams to you. ❤ xx
Thank you but sadly sleep and sweet dreams are elusive to me.
😦 I ended up taking my antihistamine and slept for 12 hours, without dreaming ..I don’t think, or waking..I think I am ‘normal’ today 🙂 I hope you manage soon -hugs lovely xxx
what an uncomfortably descriptive write Jen, sounds downright torturous. i guess i don’t really have any lack of sleep issues, i’m near narcoleptic when i need sleep..lol
oh i echo becwillmylife’s suggestion on Melatonin, several of my friends swear by it.
It is very uncomfortable Jack, tonight it hit me worse, or this afternoon, I crashed on the couch, I never have ‘nana naps’ so not me, but it’s been a tough week and I ain’t no spring chicken anymore..somethin’s gotta give…it’s a herbal prep isn’t it? I don’t even know if they sell it over here, but I can look for it. Thank you and grr that you don’t need sleep! Hugs
yes it is herbal Jen, i believe it’s a natural derivative of a plant. if you have a Whole Foods nearby they would have it, or any natural food store worth it’s salt. if not, it is commonly available online. no side effects to speak of either.
No we don’t have them, but we have health food stores, so I shall look tomorrow, thank you matey.
This says it all so well. Accursed when so needed. Hope sleep comes.x
It did last night hun, I was SO exhausted, took a tablet and zonked for 12 hours without moving! Now I feel semi normal once again. 🙂 thank you for reading xx
They say not to do this, but I either take three Tylenol or Advil, or I have a glass of wine, then read. The habit happens about once a week, otherwise I survive on only 5-6 hours sleep. I think it is our creative natures, along with I have been a lifelong worrier! Thanks so much for this poem and just knowing I am not the only one in “the boat with sleepless people” helps! Hugs, Robin
I think most of us have to rely on taking something to help. The antihistamine I take, they say to have a whole tablet. I only have half and it is enough to zonk me out. Thankfully it’s not needed every night, on average twice a week. You are right, I would to conduct a survey on the sleeping patterns of creative people as opposed to non creative, would be very interesting! No you are so not alone on this as the comments will testify 🙂 hugs Robin, may sweet dreams come your way. xx
I hate insomnia. I follow a similar process to the one you describe here – brain just won’t shut off!
It sucks doesn’t it! Our brains have way too much going on. Sadly the world we live in now. Hope you get some restful nights. Hugs ❤ xx