In all this, Doug, we seem to be alike.
I think this piece was meant to sound cocky and complacent at first, uncaringly unimaginative and unsympathetic to insomniacs, then overturned by misgivings.
Others near me have been death-haunted from early youth, and they always make me feel thoughtless about what's most serious…
Who said 'cheerfulness keeps breaking in'?
Max
On 01/08/2013, at 1:27 AM, Douglas Barbour wrote:
> I tend to fall asleep easily too, Max. But never managed anything so thoughtful when waking, those moments during the night...
>
> And still manage to avoid thinking much about the end...
>
> Hmmnnn....
>
> Doug
> On 2013-07-31, at 1:18 AM, Max Richards <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Getting to sleep is
>> never a problem for me -
>> well, almost never.
>>
>> Head lowered to pillow,
>> eyes just close,
>> breathing settles,
>>
>> I'm away.
>> Sweet dreams, or none.
>> Others, I know,
>>
>> speak of tossing
>> and turning, dozing
>> and starting up -
>>
>> full-on insomnia,
>> flat out without rest,
>> implying there's something
>>
>> nobly pathetic
>> in wakefulness.
>> Come off it! I do
>>
>> recall such nights, useful
>> for thinking, planning,
>> regretting also.
>>
>> Fearing the future -
>> ever-nearing death -
>> in the dark before dawn
>>
>> that's also much done.
>> (How many sleeps
>> till the big one?)
>>
>> So saying to myself
>> in the dark, I hear
>> two o'clock chime,
>>
>> three - enough, stupid -
>> has to be concluded -
>> to be concluded.
>>
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