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O Precious Sleep

Heavy and low, the fog remains, the muffled sound, in part explains. The sun cannot quite pierce, and so the fog remains, heavy and low. Ethereal, a trance-like state; seems clarity will have to wait. He slips from the material, a trace-like state, ethereal. And so it does begin again: a waking stupor settles in. Soon will the auditory buzz begin again, and so it does. Much confused, disoriented, deprivation, firm-cemented, has rocked his world and left his muse disoriented, much confused. O precious sleep! Where art thou now? To close the eyes and dream somehow, And roam the hills in slumber deep. Where art thou now, o precious sleep? ---------- for the Swap Quatrain Poetry Contest sponsored by Emile Pinet written on 09/05/2022

Copyright © | Year Posted 2022




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Date: 9/9/2022 2:36:00 AM
Reading this after waking up on just 4 hours of sleep makes me want one of those C-Cap machines (lol) Great write and well done on this form, Jeff. Belated Congrats on POTD. Sleep well my friend. Charlie
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Date: 9/7/2022 5:40:00 PM
You wish to stay, the moment you drift on a cloud and embrace that precious sleep, but that's not always possible. Such a wonderful feeling indeed, when you're finally able to sleep like a dream. Congratulations Jeff, on Poem of the Day. My best to you. :) Brandy
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Date: 9/7/2022 5:07:00 PM
Congratulations Jeff on POTD! A great poem on such a relatable topic. Glad you are now getting some sleep…..Sweet Dreams Jeff! Debx
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Date: 9/7/2022 3:30:00 PM
Congratulations on POTD Jeff! Love that you did well on this challenging form! No sleep...tinnitus, leg cramps, re-flux, snoring, so many reasons why...but I can't wait to get to bed. "Wee" :)
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 3:41:00 PM
Thanks, Anaya, I hope to finally make peace with my C-PAP, that or have a ceremonial burning... teehee
Date: 9/7/2022 9:58:00 AM
When mind is pre occupied with poetry, sleep will keep a distance. It happens so often. Congratulations Jeff on your POTD, quite deserving for this beautifully composed poem.
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 1:08:00 PM
Thanks so much, Valsa! I hope I'm beginning to turn a corner with the new C-PAP machine - it has been rough!
Date: 9/7/2022 8:51:00 AM
Jeff, great poem, oh I have had nights like that, too many actually and congratulations on receiving the POEM OF THE DAY honor, God Bless
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 1:08:00 PM
Thanks so much, Constance!
Date: 9/7/2022 8:33:00 AM
Very nicely penned, Congrats on POTD..
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 1:08:00 PM
Thanks, Joseph!
Date: 9/7/2022 8:18:00 AM
I enjoyed your poem the first time I read it, Jeff, and I am so pleased that it has earned P.O.T.D. We're all trying to figure out how this honor is achieved, but your poem is certainly a worthy recipient! Congratulations! Enjoy your day!
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 1:09:00 PM
Double-secret algorithms, no doubt! eenie-meenie...
Date: 9/7/2022 8:08:00 AM
Congratulations on your POTD, Jeff. I'm not familiar with this form, but have read several lately and it is intriguing. Enjoy this honor with a good night of sleep! A poet friend in Texas, Bill
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 1:09:00 PM
Had never run across it before either, Bill - interesting, for sure!
Date: 9/7/2022 7:03:00 AM
I see that Poetry Soup and I agree: This FAVE is POTD. Way to go, JK! Keep on sleeping and smiling! :) gw
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Date: 9/7/2022 6:59:00 AM
great job Jeff....it took me ten minutes to figure out the "swap"......gotta look into that contest. You slipped it in there unnoticed...at least by me.
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 1:10:00 PM
lol, I had to go look at several to get an idea of what was going on and try to figure out how to keep it from just sounding like an echo...
Date: 9/7/2022 6:26:00 AM
A nice piece Jeff. I love how it's structured and the flow. Poet friend. Heman~
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 6:34:00 AM
Thanks, Heman, thanks indeed!
Date: 9/7/2022 6:07:00 AM
Awesome write Jeff! This flows so well with such expression! Congratulations on your POTD honor! Linda
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 6:34:00 AM
Thanks so much, Linda!
Date: 9/7/2022 5:47:00 AM
Seems to by a fairly common problem amongst the soup community Jeff, maybe our minds are sometimes overcooked and stewing in poetry, but your poem is brilliant. if not painstakingly written from lack of Zs, congratulations on a totally deserving POTD, cheers David
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 6:33:00 AM
Thanks, David, yes, I am amazed at the number of people I know who have C-PAP machines. Somebody is selling a lot of equipment!
Date: 9/7/2022 5:40:00 AM
Oh wow, POTD, what a pleasant surprise to wake up to!
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Date: 9/7/2022 5:20:00 AM
I can relate to this. Congratulations for this great POTD :)
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 5:40:00 AM
Thanks so much, Heidi!
Date: 9/7/2022 5:08:00 AM
I share your angst over lack of sleep, Jeff. Congratulations on your quatrain being recognized by so many as the POTD.
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 5:41:00 AM
Thank you, Jenna, a very nice surprise!
Date: 9/7/2022 4:53:00 AM
Congratulations Jeff with This Swap Quatrain. To win with this form is a feat in itself. You have Certainly Mastered this form. Achieving POTD. So sorry for not being able to get some sleep. Best wishes to fall asleep. Thanks for sharing...
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 5:41:00 AM
That's an interesting form, isn't it? Thanks, Michael, I'd never run across that before. Yes, to sleep, perchance to dream...
Date: 9/7/2022 3:58:00 AM
Jeff, wonderfully penned, congratulations on POTD!
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 5:42:00 AM
Thanks so much, Tania, you're very kind!
Date: 9/7/2022 1:55:00 AM
It’s awful when precious sleep is deprived at night, but why does it often appear in daylight. Congratulations Jeff on receiving the honour of poem of the day… Belle
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 5:43:00 AM
Honestly, I really struggle to be pleasant when I'm tired. It affects me more than not eating and being hangry! I guess we are indeed creatures of habit!
Date: 9/7/2022 12:46:00 AM
Great Swap Quatrain z Jeff ~ congrats on POTD. May the sleep that eludes you, now envelop you!
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Date: 9/7/2022 12:39:00 AM
Nothing worse than being deprived of sleep. Counting sheep just doesn't work. Congratulations Jeff on POTD, enjoy the honour. Tom
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 5:45:00 AM
Indeed, a very pleasant surprise/honor for the morning, thanks, Tom!
Date: 9/5/2022 7:42:00 PM
Love the classic form and the penetrating question! Bravo. A FAVE for me, Jeff. Thank you, Gershon
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/7/2022 5:44:00 AM
Ah, Gershon, I actually got a night last night that fell into the "didn't suck" category. I guess that's an improvement, lol. Thanks, friend, for the fave.
Date: 9/5/2022 8:19:00 AM
Another winning poem. Methinks you are on a roll, Jeff. I really liked your reversed lines. Very nice. I also think Emile will like this.
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L Milton Hankins
Date: 9/5/2022 6:12:00 PM
I have been told I need a C-Pap, Jeff. But, they put this apparatus on me in the hospital, and I had to tell them to take it off. I was smothering to death. I'll never try THAT again! They say I have sleep apnea, but sleep apnea won't kill me...that apparatus would!!!
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/5/2022 8:42:00 AM
Thanks, Milt. I know this too shall pass, but I am really struggling right now!
Date: 9/5/2022 7:13:00 AM
I am experiencing the same thing including the buzz.The other day I worked like a fiend and was spared though my sleep was broken and dream filled.Perhaps the coal miners daughter had the answer at night we slept cause we were tired.
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Jeff Kyser
Date: 9/5/2022 7:21:00 AM
I'm on day 10, having had to get a C-PAP machine, and I simply cannot sleep with it. It is really rough! Everyone says it will be "the best thing ever," but I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, in fact, I don't even see the mountain the tunnel goes underneath! Thanks for your commiseration!

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