Nightly
I long for sleep
or tell myself I do,
yet keep deferring
bed-time.
I still sleep
in the big bed
I shared with you,
when you were alive.
I have the bed
all to myself now,
can stretch out as I like;
I don’t.
When I retire
late, alone, wakeful,
the true longing
is not for sleep.
Written for Poets United's Midweek Motif ~ Longing
Each verse is a separate 'American sentence' – just because I wanted to give it some structure. This means that each could also stand alone, senryu-like.
Each verse is a separate 'American sentence' – just because I wanted to give it some structure. This means that each could also stand alone, senryu-like.
Nice, a very pure no nonsense poem
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday. Thanks for dropping by to read mind
Much✏love
Heartfelt emotions. The strands of memories truly hold us together.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that! You capture this so beautifully!
ReplyDeleteAh, this is longing expressed to perfection.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully simple work. You make it look easy; we know it's not.
ReplyDeleteAn emotional subject that many go through silently. Thank you for giving voice to all.
ReplyDeleteRosemary,
ReplyDeleteSimply a most poignant poem. Longing is at its core...
This was good to read, Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteThe poem is beautiful as well as poignant. One could feel a tangible absence here.
ReplyDeleteI've been married to the same woman for decades, many of those years very well. I doubt I will outlive my wife but one of us will go on and bear the resonance of that love. I pray its absence will be a presence as you write here, painful as it must be. That the echo is testament to the greatness of the music.
ReplyDeleteYes, to forget would be worse. That last sentence of your comment is poetry in itself!
DeleteI love the separateness of these stand-alone poems. Life can be lonely at times.
ReplyDelete