Sleeping alone
with so much intrusion –
child born of good intentions
awash in a trail of barricades
I cope, cook up breezes, strike
wet ground – stuff myself to satiate
the onslaught, ground rapidly shifting –
Earth Mother exerting presence –
too stubborn, I turn away, look for
God but my cup keeps moving –
I am unreachable, charmed by
a broken tale, aimless, oppositional
overwhelmed – cry out but absence
holds no listeners – need adhesive
to fix this urgency – a peerless torrent –
if only I could simply these wounds
find a stopgap – emotion overflows,
exerts turmoil, sorrow replaying
sleep offers no repair, alone,
tormented by the issue at hand.
(Every so often, I revisit old poems and revise. Sleeping Alone first appeared here in December of 2017, when I was still in the throes of severe illness. I’ve come along way and it’s good to look back and see the progress. I am also linking this up to my weekly challenge, reaching.)
I’m glad that there has been progress. This poem really breathes of the isolation you must feel at times having this illness.
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The first years were brutal. After a while, isolation becomes the norm, and re-communing becomes the struggle. Ah, life. Thanks Heather.
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Ah, life…definitely full of secret doors, we walk through one to be faced with another!
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You’ve got that right!
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wow! so powerful! vj that was awesome!
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Thank you so much, friend.
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Wonderful poem! Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you for reading and taking time to comment.
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Oh my. Words full of such struggle. “Trail of barricades” – really drives it home. Glad you shared this again – yes, it is good to revisit and note progress has been made.
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Thank you. I know I need the reminders – progress is slow and I get impatient at times.
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This is so powerful V.J.. I could feel the weight of your suffering through it. I’m so glad you’ve come such a long way. Blessings to you sweet friend!
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Thank you, Terri! You are certainly a blessing to me.
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And you to me dear friend!
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my cups keep moving tell a strong story V.J
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Thanks Gina.
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I’m happy you are doing better 🙂 I really loved this line:
overwhelmed – cry out but absence
holds no listeners – need adhesive
💕
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Thanks, Christine.
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