Andrea Dietrich Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

I put this poem mostly in the past tense because my husband is doing much
better now than he was over ten years ago.  Coupled with depression, anxiety is a horrible thing for both the person who experiences it and for his/her partner. I think many people are living with this affliction, one which used to be largely unmentionable but today, with the help of new drugs to counteract chemical imbalances, it can be much more easily treated than in the past.

Night Snake

By 3 a.m. he often would awake
I’d feel the bed shake. . . 
shake. . . shake. . . 
He’d say my name and ask:
Are you awake?
I knew inside he quaked. . . 
quaked. . . quaked. . . 
He could not sleep, so nor could I.
The essence of his being ached. . . 
ached. . . . ached. . .
I only could console; I could not kill
that awful pain that rakes. . . 
rakes. . . rakes. . . 
The snake invades one’s brain to
poison sleep. Maliciously it waits. . . 
waits. . . waits. . . 
until the darkened morning
when it creeps.
He’d weep, and for his sake
I’d pray. . . for day.


Written about my husband when his depression/anxiety were very bad at one time.

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Mark Martin March 5, 2017 at 11:09 AM Touching poetry and glad your husband is much better. Best wishes to both of you! Mark :-)

Sonia Walker February 27, 2017 at 7:27 PM Andrea, congratulations on your winning poem, 'Night Snake.' I am glad to hear your husband is doing better. God bless both of you. ~ Sonia

Sara Chansarkar February 27, 2017 at 8:32 AM Can feel the anxiety through your words,Andrea!Masterfully written!

Jon A Cavanaugh September 17, 2013 at 12:49 PM I'm not sure what condition the "night snake" was but it sounds horrible. The poem was great. Just hope I don't experience a "night snake"

Kabuteng P.Ink K. October 12, 2011 at 2:16 AM sorry was only able to reply just now....

Jslambert Mister Roboto September 22, 2011 at 11:34 PM I sleep with my night snake every night! Good poem! :)

Joe Maverick September 19, 2011 at 3:28 PM You have conveyed a harrowing event here Andrea, wrapping the reader into the tale..best wishes with this in the contest..!

Caryl Ramsdale September 19, 2011 at 9:25 AM Poetry excellence! I loved the form and the way you handled it...Great work, just great. CR

Poet Destroyer A September 18, 2011 at 3:59 AM Hello Andrea,,, i could not post a comment on your 2nd place win in my contest... is there a reason why? well anyways,,, i will try again,,, bye,,, hope you feel better,...p.d. Poet Destroyer A September 18, 2011 at 4:00 AM never mind i got it,.,,

Black Eyed Susan September 17, 2011 at 11:23 AM A clever way to describe anxiety Andrea. gives a great picture of what it's really like for both of you, especially the helpless feeling you have.

Connie Marcum Wong September 17, 2011 at 7:31 AM I can totally identify with your poem Andrea. Best of luck in the contest. This poem should do well.

Dalila Agtani September 17, 2011 at 2:11 AM Hmmm Andrea! A title hard to ignore! Creatively written. Is there any snake buster? Dalila

Robert Johnson September 16, 2011 at 10:17 PM As we pray for Jesus, our soul to take,take, take.

Phyllis Babcock September 16, 2011 at 2:20 PM I have that night snake around all the time lately. It has been one heck of a year and you know what I am saying. Will see what you say about the poem. soup mail Phyl

Jack Horne September 16, 2011 at 1:54 PM This has got to be a big winner, Andrea. I guess we've all experienced this from time to time and I really feel for anyone who suffers from constant anxiety

Nette Onclaud September 16, 2011 at 1:28 PM i do get these night snakes too, andie... formidable write wit those potent repetition of lines.. whoot and winning's best! :) huggs, nette

Kabuteng P.Ink K. September 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM I am so happy to see you here, oh yay!! ^_^!! and eep, nope-- that was for Debbie's contest...that idea has niggled at me so when I saw it was still open, I actually closed it lol-- how typical of me, lol-- thank you so much for your encouraging thoughts on how I wrote it! I am just happy to be able to write again :D okidoki waiting for the soupymail :D Kabuteng P.Ink K. September 16, 2011 at 12:01 PM btw hmmmm now you got me thinking whether I should enter that too for Constance's contest...hmmmmmm ;D

Kabuteng P.Ink K. September 16, 2011 at 11:50 AM I really liked your use of word repetition here, Andrea! I think it's so effective, like those thoughts (& there fore anxiety) just keep on hounding you....& I definitely agree how depression can definitely takes its toll on the people surrounding the depressed person...sometimes it definitely is hard to talk about it with other people... really glad you wrote about this, I think a lot of people can relate here...btw capital I in title...wonderfully written & you captured that night snake well!

Russell Sivey September 16, 2011 at 10:44 AM What a glorious write Andrea! I love how you pieced together this poem, very clever!! You'll do well in the contest!!

Kim Merryman September 16, 2011 at 10:17 AM Very creative write, Andrea. I am glad your husband is doing better now. I have anxiety/panic disorder and have been on medication for over 20 years, and I remember being embarassed to have to admit it. I'm thankful it's not so "unmentionable" now. Best wishes in the contest! Kim

Kash Poet September 16, 2011 at 6:54 AM yes Andrea depression is such a curse!Very nice to know that he is far better now.This a very creative write .Best wishes:)