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Nightmares Shall Follow Us

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Author's Notes: "Nightmares Shall Follow Us" is a couplet I just completed on March 4, 2018. My purpose with this poem was to consider the theme of "nightmares" from a certain metaphorical, symbolic, and poetic perspective. There are, of course, with any complex theme of this nature many different angles, perspectives, and related subject-themes that go way beyond my specific focus in the verses of this poem. I think the main notion here is for the reader to gain a basic rationale for and understanding of the occurrence of nightmares and some of their effects on the human psyche -- or at least this was my attempt to do so here. (Gary Bateman - March 04, 2018) (Couplet)

Theme Categories: dark, dream, evil, imagery, journey, metaphor, and symbolism.

Nightmares Shall Follow Us Buried deep within the clustered-cobwebs of the mind, Lurketh certain synaptic images of things ugly and evil. These mental clustered-cobwebs do accumulate over time, And with them their synaptic images grow in proportion. These images contain reflections of daily life experiences, And may form negative visions of real people, things, events. These are the nightmares that follow us in life’s finite run. They can be evil and frightening, devouring all things good. They can even develop a synergy of their own from a wealth Of painful and traumatic experiences deep within the psyche. Deep in the shadows of the mind, one person’s night terror, May be another person’s incubus—who can say for sure? The psychic boundary separating reality and fantasy in our Dreams may blur, at times, yet nightmares shall follow us. Gary Bateman, Copyright © All Rights Reserved March 4, 2018 (Couplet)

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Faraz Ajmal

Date: 5/7/2018 4:33:00 AM

You re right, everybody has nightmares,and some times these can be really scary, especially when it involves a ghost, you see I m really interested in science but science has never been to able to tell that what causes dreams to come, psychology tells us that if we think of something we ll have a dream of it, if we have a fear we ll end uo having a nightmare but how they come, science has no answers, really enjoyed reading this poem of yours, good luck

Gary Bateman
Date: 5/7/2018 5:25:00 AM

Hello Faraz, Thanks for your enlightening comment here concerning Nightmares. You are right here about science. The dream world brings us often into direct contact with our inner-psyche. A nebulous world for sure, and very hard to clearly define. I'm very pleased you liked my couplet selection on Nightmares here!! Cheers and Best, Gary

Maria Williams

Date: 3/9/2018 7:21:00 AM

Gary I feel almost guilty telling you this, touch wood, I have never had a nightmare, or even a scary dream. In fact I sleep the "sleep of the dead' as they say. But I can truly empathize with anyone going through this. I particularly like these concluding lines The psychic boundary separating reality and fantasy in our Dreams may blur, at times, yet nightmares shall follow us' Your intense poem makes one think....Maria '

Faraz Ajmal
Date: 5/7/2018 4:35:00 AM

One reason you might not have dreams can be because when you sleep, you sleep without any fear or worries about the world, just sleep while your brain is at peace, that kind of sleep stops nightmares

Gary Bateman
Date: 3/9/2018 7:39:00 AM

Thanks Dear Maria for your read here and for your very observant comment. "Sleep of the Dead" -- eh?? Sounds like you are very well blessed not to have nightmares or any other types of sleep interruptions. You are probably very exceptional in this instance for sure. I wrote this one from more of a metaphysical perspective. For me the "dream world" offers insights into a person's life and the reaction of person's inner psyche when confronted by something unusual, and when the psyche boundary I speak of is blurred at times. Yes, I designed this write to make people think -- for sure!! Best Always, Gary

Pashang Salehi

Date: 3/5/2018 12:25:00 AM

Indeed, I'm living it...

Gary Bateman
Date: 3/21/2018 2:30:00 PM

Hello Pashang, I have both the Rubaiyat and Masnavi template at hand but have not yet crafted anything yet due to other conflicting priorities. I've writing rhymed quatrains before in the past, they did not follow the specific rhyming scheme of the Rubaiyat. The Masnavi will be really brand new effort, but I plan to write one eventually. (I will take a look at your new guidelines -- thanks!!) Many Thanks . . . Gary

Pashang Salehi
Date: 3/7/2018 1:56:00 AM

Hi Gary... Have you Rubai or Masnavi yet? I introduced a new guidelines in Poterysoup types of poem, check it out. Regarding nightmares, There can be a number of psychological/ chemical triggers. Anxiety, depression, medication can cause nightmares. When you're taking medications like me, all dreams become nightmare..."Deep in the shadows of the mind". I love this line..

Gary Bateman
Date: 3/5/2018 6:47:00 AM

Hello Pashang!! I got your point here for sure. Thanks very much for taking a read of my poem here. I think all of us to a certain degree (and some more than others), deal with nightmares or lesser bad dreams from time to time. I actually just scratched the surface of this unfortunate human occurrence with my poem here. I wish and hope all the best for you!! Cheers and Best, Gary

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 3/4/2018 12:32:00 PM

- Just by reading your title Gary ... gives me the sense of darkness and evil - Nightmares can feel so real ... you wake up cold ... but sweaty - A write of the best quality, my friend :) - Best wishes and hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Anne-Lise Andresen
Date: 3/4/2018 12:53:00 PM

- Sunday is a quiet day "on the soup" ... I will post a "real" poem tomorrow :) - * Hi Ingrid .... hope all is well :)

Gary Bateman
Date: 3/4/2018 12:39:00 PM

Hello Dear Anne-Lise!! Best Greetings from Ingrid and me!! (It's been horrifically cold as of late here in Northern Germany. I imagine Norway has got to be very cold as well!!) I'm back up posting for now and have some other themes to release also in the future. I wrote this one in various stages with several re-writes to find the right touch. (It's not such an easy topic to write about -- at least this is what I experienced.) "Nightmares" can be so very real, at times. They all have a certain message, if one can decipher them. I will stay in touch -- always!! Cheers and Best, Gary

Silent One

Date: 3/4/2018 12:18:00 PM

An excellent poem which i can relate to.. I have vivid dreams and nightmares that can affect my whole day..

Gary Bateman
Date: 3/4/2018 12:33:00 PM

Hello Silent, Me too for sure!! I think this is one of the reasons why I approached this particular theme as I did. I've probed the "inner mind" as well in some of the past poems I've written. I can definitely relate to this too!! Thanks, as always, for your read and timely comments. Best Always, Gary

Daniel Turner

Date: 3/4/2018 8:45:00 AM

Silly me, and all this time I thought it was something I ate. lol The conscience has many ways to get even, nightmares is one of them. I enjoyed the read, Gary.

Gary Bateman
Date: 3/4/2018 10:44:00 AM

Hello Danny!! Thanks for your read here, and I'm glad it was something you ate -- LOL!! LOL!! Ah, yes, the deep psyche in all of us does have its way, at times, in capturing our attention. (I guess I watch too many horror pictures!! Oh well!! Best Always, Gary

Vijay Pandit

Date: 3/4/2018 8:33:00 AM

Enjoyed reading your depiction, pondering the cause and effects of nightmares lurking in our lives. Well articulated, Gary.

Gary Bateman
Date: 3/4/2018 10:50:00 AM

Hello Vijay, Thanks for your read here. The view I posited here is one that is somewhat similar to many others I've read over the years. The individual mind, and its deep-seated connection to the inner-psyche in all of us, is still very much a mystery. I always do research on esoteric subjects like this one prior to putting ink to paper. It's amazing how much we really don't know about nightmares, etc. Cheers and Best, Gary

Arturo Michael

Date: 3/4/2018 7:22:00 AM

Instructive no doubt...A glitch in the system...needs fixing...Enjoyed your take on the subject...All the best Gary

Gary Bateman
Date: 3/4/2018 10:56:00 AM

Hello Arturo, I tried to stay in the middle of things with the build out and discussion of the subject of this couplet. When I research themes like this one, I always try to find a pathway by which I can portray images and thoughts understandable to the reader. The glitch you speak of can have frightening consequences for those so tormented in their moments of deep sleep. I'm very glad you liked my take on this subject. Best Always, Gary