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Best Sleep Poems | Poetry

Below are the all-time best Sleep poems written by Poets on PoetrySoup. These top poems in list format are the best examples of sleep poems written by PoetrySoup members

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New Sleep Poems

Don't stop! The most popular and best Sleep poems are below this new poems list.

While I Sleep by Jones, Billy
I'm Going To Go To Sleep now by Acrich, Marc
Sleep Inducing Powers by harris, matthew
A Ruff Sleep by messina, charles
Go Back to Sleep by Rowe, Jesse
The Freedom To Sleep Late by harris, matthew
Permanent Sleep by Goulbourne, Karl
Beyond from Walls of Sleep-A Reversible by Warrior, Winged
Sleep by Aguilar Jr., Todd
Glorious Sleep by Krutsinger, Caren

View all new Sleep Poems

The Best Sleep Poems

Details | Sleep Poem |

Sleepless Night

Sleepless Night

***
Teardrops, bagged eyes, a way of sin
The mirror reveals a lost eternal soul
A conniving move against tonight's phantom glow
Voices circle around the insomniac moon
Like magic and beauty, "She's Gone With the Wind."

The idea of love, 
broken like yesterday's wishbone.
She is leaving today,
her arms, my shelter
her wings now immense.
Beauty --- she's gone forever! 
Never will she suffer-
Never will she return-
All I have are lost memories,
tracing what is left.
One final deep breath
tequila vice
to wash away the pain.....

At Last, Now I See!
Under the drunken stars 
I had an epiphany 
Stricken like a match
A sunken treasure 
At Last, I Knew
You did not belong in there,
you were there for the taking
Frail and sick, no longer sane.
Memories lost, no longer - her
My Mother! 

What has become of her since? 
You're a demon, who played us all
Made us cry, while she slowly withered away

The way you laid waste to her body
nipping both her legs
Fed her through a stubble

She rapidly forgot
our names'
our faces'
I hate you Alzheimer
I hate the way you took her the first time!
I hate you Death
I hate the way you claimed her final moment!
***

Sleepless nights and pillowed feathers,
Caress a precious moment around my tender skin
Pretending my mother tucked them in
Anything to help me get past my sleepless nights.


7-08-13

Details | Sleep Poem |

The Forest

"What happens in the forest stays in the forest"

The trees are trimmed, 
The leaves on the ground 
Proposing passion, sweet mist
Naked with nothing to bare or wear
Nature's breath lightens the atmosphere
She breathes in, he breathes out
The auditory sensation of rain 
   - drums down and deepens
The course is near its end, 
Deep in this forest night
A Gentleman among the trees, 
Hibernating new seeds 

"On the other side of the forest"
He guides a path, with ebony eyes
A convincing vent, I accept
The fear is broken, I sleep in glee
The whispers disappear 
Drying in peace by the secret bayou 
Broad leaves lay under raw landscape
Lulled by the chills he quills
A quarter past midnight 
Mr Romantic
   - prepares the new sheets of Winter. 

11-11-15
~*~

Details | Sleep Poem |

Shine

Shine as a source of endless light
whose rainbows of colour deter the night
where daydreams are gentle as doves in flight
and sleep the sleep of angels

Shine like a shower of soft moonbeams
Inhabit the sea of a thousand dreams
where laughter and love are timeless themes
and sleep the sleep of angels

Shine like the sun in a golden sky
On warm, sultry evenings, a fragrance, a sigh
an echo of summer as life passes by
and sleep the sleep of angels

Details | Sleep Poem |

To Dreamland on Sunset's Lullaby

To Dreamland on Sunset's Lullaby

Gracefully the young crescent moon
ascends the sky like a cosmic tune;
replacing the drowsy pale yellow sun
sinking on a golden glowing horizon.

To dreamland on a lullaby of silvery twilight...
to dreamland floating with music of night.

Even as shadows of day seek rest,
choirs of songbirds fly home to nest.
But asleep I'll be before stars start to shine;
asleep I'll be before Venus and Mars align.

To dreamland on a lullaby of silvery twilight...
to dreamland floating with music of night.

Melodies of powder-puff pinks and baby blues,
splashed on sunset's orange-tinted hues;
gently I'll slip into a cocoon of sweet slumber,
on the wings of a celestial lullaby so tender.

To dreamland on a lullaby of silvery twilight...
to dreamland floating with music of night.

The trials of day fade gloriously to gray,
and into Sandman's restful arms I will lay.
My restless spirit is calmed from within,
serenaded by nature's soothing violin.

To dreamland on a lullaby of silvery twilight...
to dreamland floating with music of night.


03-23-2018

Contest:      Lullaby in the Sunset
Sponsor:     Vermillion Scythe
Placement:  1st (PoetrySoup Premiere Contest winner)

Details | Sleep Poem |

Two Pairs of Shoes

Two pairs of shoes beside the bed.
Mine are tiny, his large instead.

His are steel toed, sandals are mine.
His dull and dark, but mine have shine.

Opposites yes, just like our shoes.
When I'm happy, he has the blues.

My secret to brighten his mood...
A large rare steak, his kind of food.

I like the soaps, he likes the news.
When I watch mine, he takes a snooze.

I can't stand to see people die...
Watching his news just makes me cry.

Even though, we might have a fight
Love keeps us together all night.

And each night when we go to sleep.
Two pairs of shoes, company keep!

11-17-17

Details | Sleep Poem |

Sleeping With The Enemy

SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY

See what you want to see
Don't Look at me!
You are staring you are watching;
Eat what you can't be

Come sleep by my side
The whole world is our playground
Don't make a sound
Stop clowning around

In the mist of the night,
You keep me from crying

I wipe off the taste of your lips
You kiss me starting at my inner hips
You broke me in a way..
I hate to say your love is better every day 
I deny you, the one thing I can't say

You are my pillow
Where I rest my legs,
Can you feel me~
This moment feels right
I just want to die here, 
Die here ~ 
Die here by your side

I sleep with my eyes wide open,
I sleep with the enemy by my side
Come here and hold me
After you watched my worlds collide
Come here and love me
I'm yours till the end of time
You can rock me!
Under the moon and its rhyme
I put it all to a side, how I hate you inside
I can't let go
I just want you to know
I'm a fool in love with you
Even if it doesn't show!

~SKAT~
12- 7- 10

Details | Sleep Poem |

A kiss Within The Stars

So easy to remember ,So hard to forget
A kiss within the stars,through eyes of love once met.

Softly spoken voices still whisper in the wind
As gentle as a river-flow, as warm as a hot- spring.
The musky scent of his blue shirt still lingers on my skin
His taste, a ripe-plum malbec ,still tangy on my lips.

So easy to remember, So hard to forget
A kiss within the stars, through eyes of love once met.

The song of youth, the holding hands
The sad goodbye, the sweet regrets
Blissed moments found, blissed moments lost
Fresh flowers picked, all petals blown.

So easy to remember, so hard to forget
A kiss within the stars, where eyes of love once met.

As I feel tired to breathe anew, against the frost of Winter's view
Against the mourning sky , and a moonless sight
My dreams get filled with a blinking light
...And it shines bright into the night.

So easy to remember, so hard to forget
A kiss within the stars, where eyes of love once met.

My dreams now filled with thoughts of him
Of a drifting boat in journey, to the places we have been.
Of passion fields chasing my sleep ,Painting dusk with scarlet star-dust
a short-lived wish , and a million memories.

So easy to remember, so hard to forget
A kiss within the stars, through eyes of love once met.

Details | Sleep Poem |

Spider Spun Silk

She returns my gaze when I'm too restless to sleep
   a lustrous pearl mounted, deep set in a sapphire sky
I lie awake in my room, papered in spider spun silk
   Slumber is allusive to us tonight; the moon and I

I wonder what thoughts she holds in her heart
   Surely not man's doctrine of trivial pragmatism
Not by the one who rules the tide's ebb and flow
   Her mellow glow is a healing ointment of chrism

Details | Sleep Poem |

The Hands of Time-Rondeau

The Hands of Time


The hands of time stand eerie still
Where hearts chamber a cagey chill,
And whispers warn of shadows deep
With eyes that strain as shower’s sweep,
The sands of time a formless fill.

Disenchanting dreams pave their will
Seconds follow a timely till,
While the dormant lie counting sheep,
The hands of time.

Where voices scratch a shackled shrill
The hours' harbor a haunting thrill,
And the minutes tear as they weep
Behind the veils the walls of sleep,
Moon in sight above the foothill
The hands of time.



#4


The Rondeau consists of 13 lines of 8 syllables plus 2 refrains
AABBA - AAB with refrain C - AABBA with Refrain C


July.25.2018
Rondeau Poetry
Sponsored by: Joseph May 


Placed 1'st

Details | Sleep Poem |

An Evening Primrose In Your Sleep

I wanna be
the mild fragrance
of an evening primrose
gentle and sweet
beneath your sheet
Cluster of petals
which bloom
pink blossoms
to wither softly
into your sleep

Tell me...
What is the colour
of your night ?
Do  you need me
by your side?

Let your window
slightly open
Call the wind 
to breeze me in
Let your candle
slowly burning
Feel me swaying
deep within

 Tell me...
What is the colour
of your night?
Do you need me
by your side?

Don't be lonesome
Don't feel blue
I will always
come to you
Perfumed scent
wafting your way
till stars birth
first dew of day
And when the sun
sets once again
its last flame
upon the stream
I slip slowly
'neath your pillowcase
Evening primrose
in your dream

Details | Sleep Poem |

Lullaby in the Sunset

It’s time for the daytime to dance into night,
Its tangerine taffeta dress a delight,
Where is it going? Coloured so bright?
Sleep now my sunshine, you’ll dance til the light.

It’s time for the day to lay down for a doze,
It’s flushed with a blush as its eyes slowly close,
What does it dream of? Nobody knows,
So sleep now my sunshine, you’ll go where it goes.

Now darkness will conquer and day is disarmed,
Its last ruby red like a danger alarm,
Do not fear darkness, cherish the calm,
And sleep now my sunshine, I’ll keep you from harm.


30 March 2018
For “Lullaby in the sunset” contest
Sponsored by Vermillion Scythe (not placed)
And placed 7th in Brian Strand’s premiere contest 140

Details | Sleep Poem |

Old Wounds

Composed, my dreams embrace, then fade
with memories, quite undefined
returning nights, upon the shade
when clocks are wound, and sun reclines

When weariness is not enough
to lie alone, to sleep again,
the darkest ghosts, upon the cliffs
return as if I've begged them in

Appearing with unspoken words
to pull the quilt from tender bones
to race the heart, and pace the halls
and magnify what 's come and gone

For in the dark, a voice is clear
It calls to me, and I can hear
where loneliness has been my friend
and clearer than I could recall

I've pulled apart a scab disturbed
as if it were an angry wound
and somewhere in the distant world
a part of me has never healed

By light of day, you are gone 
I'm still alive, and still alone
hovering within the mist, 
with sunlight slipping down the trees

I'll brush my hair, and make the most
ignoring ghosts, all through my day
Tonight will come, and, still, I hope
to welcome sleep, becoming lost



____________________________________________________

Details | Sleep Poem |

Sleepless nights

 When counting sheep on sleepless nights
   fail to make me sleep
 I count the stars  in vaulted heights
   that through my window peep
    Then  lullabies from up on high
  brings my soul to rest
     In dreams I fly across the sky
  in slumber's peaceful quest
                  ----

Details | Sleep Poem |

Chased By The Dawn

 
In the downy-soft hours, where dawn hovers near,  
Night's uncovered dream, must disappear.   
Once, delivered, then replaced,    
Never to be traced,    
Drifting on,  
Chased,   
By the dawn.    
Fantasies misplaced,  
Become silver clouds, erased.   
Lost in forever, quite far from here,   
In the downy-soft hours, where dawn hovers near


=====================
2//13/15
  
Inspired By Andrea's Contest: "An Invented Form"

Details | Sleep Poem |

Not One Word


Silence
The sweet rhapsody of quietness
Sit back and savor
the music of the void,
where no dissonant voices are heard
It's so relaxing in this soundless realm;
break not the peace, speak not one word
Stay muted,
let all unspoken thoughts flow within
a serene state of mind, cascading down
into a calm stream of consciousness
No discordant utterances echoes through this vale of tranquility
The absence of strident, background noise
causes
          the ears
                      to fall
                               sound asleep
Not one disturbing word to be heard ...
There is only blessed silence
floating around you as you dream deep,
thinking of me,
in the heart of the night
This is as it should be

Details | Sleep Poem |

A Meadow's Sigh

The meadow’s breath a gift to all, the mist, the morning dew,
a silent sigh, a heartfelt call, a prayer to me and you.

Green and warm, full of life, the forest's skirt, the Maid's delight,
where rabbits dwell in lovers’ dells, a dream in morning light.

Gold and bright, full of life, the forest's skirt and Knight's delight;
life lies in grasses high, where lovers sleep and passion cries.

White and fair, full of life, the forest's skirt of pearly white;
burrowers sleep in bowers deep, hearths alight on chill nights.

The meadow's breath a gift to all, the mist, the morning dew;
a silent sigh, a heartfelt call, a prayer to me and you.

The men have made the meadow home, no rabbits now play there,
no deer appear so near the roads for cars bring them dispare.

The meadow was home to many things, butterflies, birds on wing,
yet, few can dwell where men reside, the forest's skirt swept aside.

The meadow’s breath a gift to all, the mist, the morning dew,
a silent sigh, a heartfelt call, a prayer to me and you.

Details | Sleep Poem |

In Darkness I Dwell

How long will this dreary night go on
Seems years since light of morn
Why does worry keep me awake
What is this burden I cannot shake

Heart beats fast within my breast
too quick to grant needed rest
No moon above to cast its light
This crepuscule gives birth to fright

I smell wax of candles burning
but something keeps me from turning
If this be a dream, let me wake
I've thirst and hunger to slake

My eyes are open, yet I cannot see
the willow outside; my weeping tree
"Fear not," I warn myself in voice aloud
the moon must be cloaked by a cloud

I call for Davinia, in angst and fear
but my wife is not sleeping near
I long to glimpse morning's sun
impatient for this night to be done

Only sleep could bring a measure of peace
and from shadowed night to have release
but I've been chained to the beast
who fights the dawn's rising in the East

Of going insane, I fast approach the brim
tortured by thoughts, dank and grim
Whispers I hear, but quite dim,
"What will become of Davinia without him"

Who speaks of me in grammar, past tense
Someone who's lost his mind and sense
The air 'round me grows warm and dense
Could that odor be flowered scents

A memory now haunts my sleep deprived brain
Of a brutal nature; of cold falling rain
an act of violence, like the angry sin of Cain
of a man's life taken; from a dagger slain

I lie in rest, but not upon my bed
this moment is one I most dread
In a sepulcher, on a pillow, rests my head
In eternal darkness to dwell, I lay dead

I accept defeat by the enemy of death
At peace,  I've take my last breath
Night is over, and in darkness deep
I rest in perpetual sleep




Originally written on November 23rd, 2015
Greg Barden's The Poet's Shadow Contest

Details | Sleep Poem |

Lull-Lull-Lullabies

Lithesome fingers trailed along 
the ukulele’s  frets
as Lilah played her dulcet lullabies.
Swaddled in a blanket, smiling,
lay her little lad,
looking up at her with large blue eyes.

Lilah lilted, “Sleep, my son,
for tranquil dreams await.
Lull-lull-lullabies for you I sing.”
As she crooned mellifluously
lulling him to bliss,
she watched small eyelids flutter-fluttering.

Lightly, lightly, letting fingers
roll along the strings,
Lilah moved her delicate small hand.
Eyes that lingered lovingly
on the wee one saw
him amble soundly into Slumber Land.


May 29, 2017 for Cecelia Hopkins-Drewer's Contemporary Poetry Contest
*I enjoy almost all types of poetry, but I suppose this represents more the Classical approach which I most often use (more lyrical and with some rhymes) though my focus is on alliteration here. I love the way L words sound!

Details | Sleep Poem |

Worlds Of Ice

Winter's whimsical nature comes with
     fickle freeze, cold pervading every fibre
How I remember you, red hot
     against the white snow
Smoking volcano
     against permafrost desolation
How your aura lingers in my brain
     fleeting perfume, breeze of ozone 
The sweet sweaty scent of long nights
     leathery lines grafted in my skin
The fragile steps we took, tension
     of our vulnerability in closeness
Sweet brokenness, tender hurt...
     Worlds of ice can not find my
Duvet of snowflakes, simulation of
     soft warm goose down
Mirroring remnants of our souls
     that sleep in dreamless reminiscence


***

May 17, 2017 
Copyright © Darren White

Details | Sleep Poem |

Sleepless Nights Upon the Bough

Roving a youthful shadowed ebony heaven
as the earth is still on blissful spring night flight.
I fly through and over the enclosing trees,
boughs', and the susurration fluttering leaves. 

I emerge to nesting Nightingales
and their cacophony melodious
of unfilled cries , calling me
to come to appease their needs.

Alighting and dripping down
for a short quick kiss to each one. 

          I woke to a vision of streaked ,wisps
          of timeless gray clouds before the morning.
          It's not a silent night, stars glitter and wink
          in the dark as they look down on me. 
          Minstrels outside my bedroom window;
          the birds were there somewhere
          between the treetops and the cloud bottoms.

     There will be no sleeping beauty upon these white linens,
     as a result of reverberating sounds of those crying cuties. 

7/2/2017

Details | Sleep Poem |

Lazy Afternoon

Dozing
on a cream-colored comforter
I care not
for a cacophony
of color
cloistered
near my ear
but vague vestiges
of vanilla whispers
melting
in an ivory bowl


1st Place
Mid Summer Standard Contest
Sponsor:  Brian Strand
7/19/17

Details | Sleep Poem |

Christmas time

Nightgowns on at 9:01
Adrenal induced delerium
Santa’s journey has surly begun
To our beds, we were a scurrying

Closed eyes, at 9:05
But sleep would not come easy
We’d twist and turn, side to side
At least til 5 past 3

Then somewhere before, 3:44
Sleep would come, by chance
Til little sis would creep through the door
Ready to sneak a glance

Prowling the stairs, side by side
And past the grandfather clock
Which, by now, was reading 4:55
Five ticks before each tock 

Around the bin and into the den
Stood our sparkling 8 foot tree
Palms were there, to catch our chins
We’d gaze til 5:03

Up the stairs, new teddy bear
Little sister, close behind
Sound asleep, to prepare 
For the alarm at 6:59

Details | Sleep Poem |

Insomnia

Occasionally, I taste wakeful infinity.
It creeps on me at night.
There I lie in all kinds of positions,
while sleep flies away silently, ominously,
over the rafters and out into the starless night.
 
Fear grips my soul,
My worries taunt
for tomorrow will come,
eyes red, bags will hang beneath the lids,
and a body rigid, stressed, and tired.
Fatigue is in my very bones.
 
How fragile our lives can be?
Why can't I conjure visions
out of the darkness of the night?
Even the moon went to sleep.

I count sheep, 
unending fields, trains,
or gentle breezes that help sails into port.
Nothing works. I just give up,
lie back and hope in vain.
Thoughts fly, ugly at times,
I strive to remember the gentler moments,
but fail miserably.  I feel faint.
I turn, I stretch, I count, I pray.
I feel like an insignificant pinpoint
in the universe's expanse.
Can't do anything but wait for dawn.

POTD 21 August 2018

Details | Sleep Poem |

Tired

If eyes are mirrors of the soul
My soul is red and saggin'
I think my brain went on a stroll
And for sure my tails a draggin'

I'm a chicken that's out of clucks
An old wall missing its mortar
Some might feel like a million bucks
I'm more like a buck and a quarter!

Soon sweet slumber I will embrace
As I quietly drift to dream land
Rejuvenating, I keep this place
In the palm of my wrinkled hand!

Details | Sleep Poem |

Night owl

 
 As the moon sang a lullaby
to a distant star
The creatures below to sleep did sink
Except for the owl,  who didn't sleep a wink

 " What time do you  have" asked the owl 
" It's a  quarter to nine"
Said the  tree with a scowl
" Thanks, I am going on  my hunting spree"  the owl replied
As he flew off into the night from  the old oak tree

  "Oh my,  I'm running late"  
exclaimed  the field mouse,
As he looked  at his watch
while hurrying  to  get to his house
It was then that the owl made his catch
as with his talons, the mouse he did snatch!
                           ---