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Price I Pay For Slumberland

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Since getting past age 60, it has been so difficult for me to sleep (though I can sometimes fall to sleep naturally, i cannot STAY asleep). I do not feel tired during the day even getting only 5 hours of sleep at night, but I enjoy dreaming, so I really wanted to get back the 7-hour sleeptimes of my youth. I tried every natural product from melatonin to all kinds of herbs and special teas. I even tried seven types of prescription pills. Only one works for me: Temazapan (at a high dose)! Sure wish I did not have to rely on that!

Now I lay me down to sleep. Soon I start to curse the clock keeping me from counting sheep. I just hear tick-tock, tick-tock. Bothersome! What can I do? Turn face up, then on my side. An hour’s passed; soon will be two. How much more can I abide? All my thoughts keep racing on. Dread is washing over me since I feel by light of dawn only wakeful will I be! Watch tv or read; I wait . . . Consciousness is with me still. What I need to do I hate. I must take a sleeping pill! Such Dependency is sick. I reach out to my night stand. TWO pills perhaps will do the trick! Price I pay for Slumberland. Jan. 23, 2021 for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Poetry Contest Sponsor: Craig Cornish

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Robert Pettit

Date: 1/28/2021 11:06:00 AM

I'm in the same boat you are. However, I try not to take sleeping pills because I currently take too many other medications. As usual, your writing talent comes out in this one.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/28/2021 11:07:00 AM

thanks. I hate depending on the pills but since I take no other medications, I hope it won't hurt me much.

Lindsay Laurie

Date: 1/24/2021 8:18:00 PM

Hello Andrea … you described my nights very well, but the more I try to get to sleep the more frustrating it is. These hot nights we are having doesn’t help either - thank you Andrea - Lindsay

Gershon Wolf

Date: 1/24/2021 4:57:00 PM

Wow, does this ever resonate with me. I hit the skids at 66, after a knee replacement operation, which wound up screwing up my back, my sleep, and gave me emphydema for a couple of years... Anyway, I feel for you, Andrea. It's such a bad feeling to be dependent on pills to sleep. I'm there too, although I occasionally get three-month periods where I don't need pills. And they're exactly three months to the day, incredibly. Oh, well. Keep tinkering. Eventually it's not so bad. Really. ~ gw

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/25/2021 1:32:00 PM

I started feeling a general unease with the world and what was going on around me about six years ago. A year after that I got cancer, and nothing has been the same. A medication I was given post-cancer has left me with bad effects. The Plandemic is in place, and I know where it's leading. Probably all that stuff contributes to my sleep problem. My side effects from Prolia greatly disturb my ability to sleep as well!

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/25/2021 1:32:00 PM

glad to hear you have the three month periods at least! I have times when I sleep easier as well.

Sara Kendrick

Date: 1/24/2021 2:12:00 PM

You are probably either getting too much artificial light during the day and maybe products with caffeine or under too much stress. Not sleeping is horrible for sure. I have problems also. Melatonin should help you sleep plus dream. Thanks for all the visits to my page. Sara

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/24/2021 2:16:00 PM

I never slept all that much as a kid when I think of it. I enjoyed too much being a night owl. it's "in the blood" I guess. Melatonin, what a joke!!

Harry Horsman

Date: 1/23/2021 10:39:00 PM

Sleeplessness is usual down to an active mind, Andrea, i've just scroll back 3,546 poems ago, 'I Heard Mother' and i'm sure thats only a one part of your life.. So many of us here, wish the best for you and hope, that natural sleep will come. And the poetry keeps on coming too.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/24/2021 12:48:00 PM

oh and Edison got less than 3 hours a night. Did you hear about him? His inventors he hired were called the Insomniac squad, or something like that. I greatly admire that guy. He lived a long time, so I don't know why I worry about hours of sleep I get. I just enjoy sleeping and having dreams, so I feel I'm being shortchanged without my dreams!

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/24/2021 12:45:00 PM

I also heard that the smarter one is, the less sleep he requires, so I guess I can look at it THAT way. hahaha. I knew one lady who slept only 3 hours a night and she was perfectly healthy. At the time, I was only 40 and getting my normal 6 hours a night and I was incredulous that anyone could exist on 3 hours a night. but I guess it's possible!! Hopefully it means I am smart and not just subconsciously overly stressed! maybe the pills will make me go cuckoo!!

Victor Buhagiar

Date: 1/23/2021 9:57:00 PM

We must always have to pay a price for any action we take. ~~

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/24/2021 1:06:00 PM

Not true sometimes, Victor. I know people who abused their health for years and are living happily in their 90's. Life is so strange!!

Anitha Jayasankar

Date: 1/23/2021 6:47:00 PM

I love your title Andrea. So apt for what you have written. Most of us have this experience I think, sometimes not getting a sound continuous sleep, last stanza made me a bit sad though. I hope and wish you sleep well without pills. Nice rhymes. Best wishes in the contest. Hugs ~ Ani

John Hardison

Date: 1/23/2021 5:42:00 PM

May be the something was singing: Sleep no more my lady. So you would write this poem to be a sleepless winner. Such a privilege cost much. Lots of Lock. Peace, Love an Joy.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/24/2021 1:03:00 PM

if it even gets placed. Otherwise, just another poem I wrote for nothing, except unless someone enjoyed it or related to it!