Poetry After Midnight - Version 2

Finally, the hectic day is over,
and all I want to do is sleep.
But, as soon as my head hits the pillow
that voice of inspiration comes to me in the darkness.

Brilliant words flow to me from out of nowhere.
And as I have learned before,
if I don't write these lines down now,
they will be gone by morning.
No matter how hard I try to remember them, I cannot.
The poetry that came to me in the darkness. is gone forever.

I am blinded as I turn on the lamp
but, I find my paper and pen, and begin to write.
The endless ticking of the clock on the wall
is like torture, as the time flies past the midnight hour.

But, every time I turn off the light and lay back in bed,
that haunting voice starts to torment me, again.
So, I have no choice, but to get back up and write, again.
The same thing keeps occurring at 3 a.m., 4 a.m., 5 a.m.,
and now the light of dawn begins to show.

Under these circumstances,
poetry can be a blessing and a curse.
Because, some of my best work
has come to me after midnight.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2013

Poem

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Callus Avatar
June 30, 2014 at 5:24 PM
Oh Kelly....it's amazing how much sleep we lose when that lovely muse comes along, but who am I to complain! I am sure that the best poems I write come to mind at night. An other entertaining version. // paul
Deschler Avatar
July 3, 2014 at 11:56 PM
Thank you so much for reading and commenting on both versions of this poem. I really appreciate it, Paul!.... I know for sure that my best poems come to mind late at night, or at the most inopportune times. In the end, it is usually worth losing a little sleep over!
Dietrich Avatar
March 25, 2014 at 11:42 PM
I really like this. it seems very familiar to me. Maybe it is a lot like part one that you wrote? It's so true that we can have our best thoughts when it's just so dang late!
Deschler Avatar
March 26, 2014 at 5:41 PM
Versions 1 and 2 are pretty much the same poem. Except, one is a quatrain, and the other is free verse. I felt like my feelings weren't expressed enough in the quatrain version, so I wrote a free verse version, too. I just wasn't sure which poem to post, since both turned out well! Thank you for the kind comments, Andrea! :)
A   Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 8:21 PM
Kelly, , Congratulations on your win ~xox~ LINDA
Anglesey Avatar
November 16, 2013 at 7:22 PM
Enjoyed the way you expressed one aspect of the writing process. 'I have lost inspirations many times by not writing it down when it comes no matter where or time of day or night. Congrats on the win :)
Guzzi Avatar
November 15, 2013 at 7:46 PM
Congrad's on your win. Light & Love
Puddifoot Avatar
November 15, 2013 at 6:44 PM
ah yes, this one pulled me in because I can relate to the words, all too well! a poet's toil burning the midnight oil haha I don't know why it is that the words seem to come after midnight...congrats on your win in my contest! :)
Kendrick Avatar
November 14, 2013 at 6:28 AM
Yes, it can be a blessing and a curse for sure when one looses sleep over the issue..Thanks for the visit to my page..Sara
Clemons Avatar
November 12, 2013 at 9:13 PM
Beautiful poem Kelly!! I can relate totally to this. It is the beautiful annoyance of poem, when words come to visit, and want to be written down. Deeply expressed. Enjoyable overall. Check out some of mine. Peace.
Onclaud Avatar
November 8, 2013 at 6:18 PM
right on target about the muse coming at such late hiurs.. tremendous, impressive images for night owling, kel..:) huggs
Mcdaid Avatar
November 6, 2013 at 6:41 PM
night time alone brings out the best writing excellent piece
Carroll Avatar
November 5, 2013 at 4:52 PM
Hi Kelly, I liked this one as I can relate..Most of my writing occurs late at night...Well done my friend.. Ken
Dey Avatar
November 5, 2013 at 11:46 AM
Your craziness for poetry tell us one thing clearly that you love to write and most of the time you think about the environment of poetrysoup or about your poem's note book."CRAZY" is most important to get something from anything which all can't do.Sometimes i also tried to not write as it takes most of my study time...but can't.Great work...
Adams Avatar
November 4, 2013 at 8:04 PM
oh how well I think all poets can relate to this piece...mine used to always come at night....now it's occasional nights but more she comes when I am driving my bus full of children...and no way to write then, someone told me to get a recorder and talk as I drive...lol, the kids would think I was nuts....enjoyed this write from you! hugs :)
Dunn Avatar
November 4, 2013 at 4:34 PM
Thank you for your comment on my friend Midnight she is my buddy, and little labby lovey.cheri
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