Notes About The Poem


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Insomnia's Dream

Insomnia’s Dream

A Poetic Expression by JC Hawkens

I reach for the walls
Blinded by the light 
I hear a voice call
With rhythm and rhyme 
Not a shadow in sight

Fear hangs as tension that mounts
My head is so empty 
It screams in my mind
A lingering hope that kills only
with time
In a motion I break from the bed
To conquer the light 
found only in my head


Stand sight of the clock 
At quarter past three
A nightmare I can not win 
Awake and never free

A container of my freedom within my grasp
A flip of the top, comes to pass 
With water from a glass

An answer for a reflection
None too soon in coming
A sleep at last
Forever in peace
Not a voice to awaken
Nor a light to break this sleep
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Darnell Sr Avatar
May 22, 2020 at 1:58 AM
Hello JC, Incorporating segments of yesterday passed and the same routine we set ourselves in today. Piecing it together of tomorrow s promise. This is very well penned and has great structure, JC. I enjoyed reading this piece, thank you for sharing it. Take care my friend, and smile JC. Best of Wishes, William
Hawkens Avatar
May 28, 2020 at 5:28 AM
Thank you, William, it was my existence for three decades. I would often dread the end of a day, because I knew what was in store for me. Your comments are most welcome my friend. I hope you have been writing.
Gist Avatar
April 27, 2020 at 5:40 PM
Love the visualization here.
Hawkens Avatar
May 28, 2020 at 5:23 AM
Thank for the gracious words
Dietrich Avatar
April 20, 2020 at 4:14 PM
finally seeing here the comment you left me about wishing me good sleep. I sometimes manage it better than other nights! I may have seen now all there is to see of your poetry. Let me try one more poem (I have seen all the others I clicked on!!)
Lamoureux Avatar
April 19, 2020 at 8:46 AM
For me my inspiration comes early in the morning. I awake with a line in my head and then the piece feels like it writes itself. If I don’t commit it to paper it evaporates before my eyes. I have lost many poems that way. This was an interesting read because this morning I awoke from a nightmare.
Hawkens Avatar
April 19, 2020 at 11:46 AM
This poem is the very first one I wrote. I was in my teens and had insomnia at the time. I just couldn't shut my head off. I wrote this after I had met someone that inspired the poet in me. Though, I didn't know what to call it at the time. I think I referred to it as creative writing. We lost touch, and I didn't write anything else until 35 years later when we met again. That poem was She Held My Heart . Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Blessings my friend
Proxenos Avatar
April 13, 2020 at 2:36 PM
I have a notebook and pen in a drawer in my bedside table. Often I jump up and write a word which will remind me on the morrow what I wish to write about. Well penned - enjoyed the title of your poem. Blessings, Jennifer.
Hawkens Avatar
April 14, 2020 at 3:47 PM
I have a voice recorder that I have been thinking of using it for that very reason. Those that come in the quiet of the night are always the most wonderful ones. Thank you for these lovely words, and excellent advice. Stay safe. JC Hawkens
Neumann Avatar
April 13, 2020 at 6:46 AM
The powers of the subconscious and of a glass of water.
Hawkens Avatar
April 14, 2020 at 3:41 PM
It's a wonder what the mind will blame for lack of sleep—the ticking of the clock, the light on the wall that only you can see. Thank you, my friend, for the beautiful comment. Stay safe. JC Hawkens
Jeavons Avatar
April 12, 2020 at 12:05 PM
This makes me wonder if all poets wake at those hours. I wake every night at 3:33, or should I say morning! Ha. You expressed perfectly what so many insomniacs go through JC! Blessings and Hugs
Hawkens Avatar
April 13, 2020 at 3:55 AM
Thank you for these beautiful words; they do mean a lot to me. And yes, I do believe that there is something about that time of night. I wrote the poem 35 years ago. I was surprised I still had it. Didn't know what poetry was back then. Stay safe. JC Hawkens
Wolf Avatar
January 8, 2020 at 7:51 PM
Enjoyed the 're-live' of the poem, though I have no desire to ever experience insomnia again. A not-so-silent killer, it is! :) gw
Hawkens Avatar
March 29, 2020 at 5:52 PM
Thank you very much Gershon, for the kind words. Insomnia is not something I would wish on anyone. Stay safe.
Williams Avatar
December 3, 2019 at 10:53 PM
A wonderful write and you expressed so well what some of us seem to suffer with at the 'witching hour' of 3 AM . Though must say I always slept like a log in my teens. Lucky me....Maria Hugs BUW
Hawkens Avatar
December 31, 2019 at 9:03 AM
As always Maria, thank you for the kind words. They are much appreciated. I've had trouble in the past quieting my mind.
Delaney Avatar
November 24, 2019 at 7:19 AM
Hi JC: Enjoyed this one, as we all can relate. I now use a Homedics sound machine on soft ocean noises. Very conducive to sleep. Hope you are finding your way around this site. The poetry contests give some good writing challenges. Link on the left, also the blogs. SuZ
Hawkens Avatar
November 24, 2019 at 7:36 AM
Thank you, Suz. I have a tablet on my nightstand that plays rain. And a fan for the white noise. I have been mulling over the contests. It would be interesting to try different formats. As always Thank you for the comments and advice.
Ramos  Avatar
November 24, 2019 at 6:52 AM
Really nice tittle great poetry.. god bless you
Hawkens Avatar
November 24, 2019 at 7:38 AM
Thank you. And I am glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate the comments. It means a lot to me... And God bless you too.
Dietrich Avatar
November 23, 2019 at 7:13 PM
I see below you wrote this in your teens. WELL DONE!!! I was drawn to the title because I cannot sleep without pills. I wake after three hours and need something to help me get through the night. 3 a.m seems to be the witching hour as it seems in your poem as well. I would not describe my experience as you did yours, but wow, you experienced this in your youth. I never had this problem in my youth. Oh, to be young again!!
Hawkens Avatar
November 23, 2019 at 7:39 PM
Yeah, I've had it most of my life. I would toss and turn for what felt like hours. Only to find that 15 minutes went by. I am fortunate that I have developed better sleeping patterns. I still wake up at about 3 am. Thank you for the read and the comments. I hope that you are able to find your sleep.
Somadas Avatar
November 22, 2019 at 7:02 AM
A strange dream beaitifully depicted..
Hawkens Avatar
November 24, 2019 at 7:42 AM
Thank you for the comments. Sometimes I wonder if life is just a strange dream and we are just avatars in someone else's dream
Adams Avatar
November 17, 2019 at 8:45 PM
i really liked this one....good use of imagery to make the reader feel the power of insomnia...:) good write! ps welcome to poetry soup, most people will read you if you read them...so to get more insight, seek reading other's and they may return the reads...
Hawkens Avatar
November 18, 2019 at 6:05 AM
Thank you for your kind words. I just happened upon this just recently. I wrote it 35 years ago when I was a teen. Never thought of it as poetry. Thought I had lost it. Then I attempt to write poetry a couple of weeks ago. Odd is the magic of life sometimes. And thank you for the advice.
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