Akkina Downing Poet Free verse

Sleepless

Sleep 
sleep is afar from the eyes
For the mind is too busy 
with many thoughts of you
Tossing and turning 
staring up into space

Mad
am I gone mad 
I've been trying to get over you
Yet memories of good times glimmering my mind 
I can't help smiling 
You once used to make me laugh 

But
but time has changed and life goes on 
Except here I am with another sleepless night 
Pondering 
Wondering 
Fooling my mind
Exhausting my eyes
Playing with my heart

So
seems like I got too much of it
Reminiscing on what can't be undone 
But baby No I don't need you anymore 
These tears I cry are for the end 
Because the sound of mid morning arriving 
Signaling me to grow up and get some rest
Heavy lids drop and darkness swallow me whole 
  
             Smile 

     Akkina R Downing 
            8-8-17

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Ink Empress January 20, 2024 at 3:03 AM Dear Akkina, i hope you are doing well, just thought of you, saw a sweet comment from you on an earlier poem and missed your presence: i love this free verse and how it flows in such eloquence as always, i think many can resonate with those emotions too when we are sleepless pondering wondering fooling too our minds with various thoughts. Sometimes we dont realize and we contemplate on deepest emotions when the rest of the world is sleepin. I love the strength in last linee to accept and move on

Susan Woodrow November 12, 2020 at 10:33 AM This was an awesome write - the way you set it up all the way to that ending. Yep, I can relate to those same feelings...I alternate between smiling, crying, anger at myself and then sympathy for the sod! which I have to turn around to sympathy for me and anger at him coz I cannot go thru the same crap again and again! :)

Andrea Dietrich November 6, 2020 at 6:05 PM ahh, this kind of love keeps you sleepless when it's starting out AND when it's ended. Good one, Akkina. I know insomnia all too well!

James Horn August 28, 2017 at 8:25 AM Must have been in Seattle, Right? This is like me when I have eaten a late dinner and ended up with nightmares. Akkina Downing August 28, 2017 at 9:18 AM Nope just New York :) hello Mr. Horn what a nice surprise visitand thank you... hugs :)

Freddie Robinson Jr. August 14, 2017 at 2:20 PM Powerful emotional write, Akkina. The last line is a crescendo bombshell ... heavy lids drop and darkness swallow me whole. Great line! Star bright poem. Love and joy, my friend. Akkina Downing August 14, 2017 at 4:55 PM Thank you so much my dear friend Freddie. Always happy to hear from you :) peace and love :)

Edward Mccall August 12, 2017 at 7:22 PM WOW Kina I have been in this poem. What an emotionally filled piece you definitely capture The sleepless nights that arise from relationships end. I love the last stanza this is definitely going into my faves. Hugs to you Akkina xx {;-) Akkina Downing August 12, 2017 at 8:01 PM I guess we all can relate to it...?? While young and somewhat inexperienced, or rather unwise, we fell to understand what's the real meaning of love. But we do grow and wiser, thankfully ;) thank you my dear friend Ed. Always I appreciate your kind and sweet comments... big hugs :)

Anne-Lise Andresen August 12, 2017 at 3:25 PM - I know the long dark nights, Akkina ... the minutes are an eternity - But not to sacrifice tears for a man who does not know what HE has LOST ! - Beautiful poem with emotions - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Akkina Downing August 12, 2017 at 3:58 PM It was a teenage girl drama. She's come a long way. Thank you so much Anne-Lise :)

James Swartz August 12, 2017 at 11:10 AM Nice beautiful piece Akkina. I think this proves the soul is more important than the heart. A heart can be broken many times and we grow stronger. You show us your beautiful soul in all your words. Akkina Downing August 12, 2017 at 11:20 AM Thank you James very much :)

Demetrios Trifiatis August 12, 2017 at 2:53 AM Wise decision dear, Akkina whoever lives in the past misses the future. I really loved this poem that depicts all of us at one or another moment in our life! Excellent! Akkina Downing August 12, 2017 at 6:06 AM Thank you so much Demetrios always appreciate your comment... hugs :)

Susan Ashley August 11, 2017 at 8:32 PM Hi Akkina, I can relate and I love how you expressed yourself in this sad but beautifully penned poem :) Akkina Downing August 12, 2017 at 6:05 AM Thanks so much Susan :) xoxo

Paul Callus August 10, 2017 at 11:39 AM The determination to move on must not be allowed to waver, even though memories can play funny tricks on us! Enjoyed this poem, Akkina...hugs // paul Akkina Downing August 10, 2017 at 7:14 PM Thank you so much Paul :)

Ravi Sathasivam August 10, 2017 at 6:51 AM Sad but well penned. Thanks for sharing it. Akkina Downing August 10, 2017 at 8:10 AM Thank you Ravi :)

Winged Warrior August 9, 2017 at 5:17 PM Nicely penned my friend...now take a nap lol...^WW^ Akkina Downing August 9, 2017 at 5:28 PM Lol! I just did at the beach :)

Maria Williams August 9, 2017 at 9:15 AM Akkina i can certainly relate to a sleepless night or two, but it was definitely not over any lost loves. Maybe I'm hard or maybe I just dont think I'll give up my sleep for anyone except the Sand Man lol. Now as far as your lovely poem goes you captured the restless night well. Enjoyed it...Maria Akkina Downing August 9, 2017 at 10:50 AM Lol! This was a teenage girl drama. She's beyond that now :) thank you so much for the lovely comment my dear friend Maria ...hugs, Kina :)

Mike Reed August 9, 2017 at 8:13 AM Akkina- You Win, Baby! Nice poem. How about your email address for me! Thanks, smiles, Mike Reed Akkina Downing August 9, 2017 at 8:44 AM Mike, I don't just give out my email address to strangers. If you want to be my friend then be a respectful gentleman. Thank you for understanding and thank you for your sweet comment :)

Vijay Pandit August 9, 2017 at 7:08 AM Emotions coming through in this poem--good days ahead! Akkina Downing August 9, 2017 at 7:41 AM Thanks Vijay:)

Pashang Salehi August 9, 2017 at 1:27 AM When you are sleepless, it means you are awake in somebody else's dream... Akkina Downing August 9, 2017 at 7:41 AM I've heard that it's because someone else is thinking about you too. Thank you Pashang, grateful always for your time and comment :)

Old Man Emu August 8, 2017 at 10:08 PM Expressed very well, I can relate to this, I have only survived on 4 to 5 hours sleep for most of my life. I love the smile at the end. Kind regards, Craig Akkina Downing August 8, 2017 at 10:11 PM Thanks so much for the lovely comment, Craig :)

Ronald A. Williams August 8, 2017 at 8:38 PM Vary dramatic with empathy and heart telling.

Joseph May August 8, 2017 at 6:39 PM No more tossing and turning...just a peaceful slumber.....Very nicely penned Akkina Akkina Downing August 8, 2017 at 7:26 PM Thank you Joseph :)

Connie Marcum Wong August 8, 2017 at 6:03 PM Sleep deprivation can cause a kind of madness, an uncontrollable irritability. I can relate. No matter the cause of the sleeplessness, when undisturbed sleep finally arrives, it can feel like heaven! I enjoyed your lovely poem Akkina! : ) Akkina Downing August 8, 2017 at 6:33 PM mahalo ia ?oe, Miss Connie :) your visit and lovely comments are always appreciated :)

Heidi Sands August 8, 2017 at 5:04 PM This is full of expression the reader can feel. Well written Akkina :) Akkina Downing August 8, 2017 at 5:13 PM Thanks so much Miss Heidi :)

Tim Smith August 8, 2017 at 4:56 PM A sad but beautiful piece Kina. It is hard to let things/people go. Akkina Downing August 8, 2017 at 5:12 PM Thank you Tim :)