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Of Sleep and Poetry


 
 

When sullen sleep comes, and in dreaming dull

 

this dullard dreamer wastes away her night,

 

what nightly wraiths entice – I am their gull!

 

No gull-wings lift me into wind-spun flight,

 

I fly to fall. All’s dun, all’s drear, all’s dark,

 

and darkness is my exile till the day,

 

when daylight, with a sunbeam’s arrow-mark,

 

marks out my waking path and leads the way.

 

Away with dreams, let Hypnos fold his tent

 

intent to plague antipodean minds!

 

Mind now the dawning chorus heaven-sent

 

– send in the sunshine and raise up the blinds –

 

        my blindness gone, now songs of ocean-deep

 

        deep-plumb my soul-sea till my sullen sleep! 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Author notes

A piece of nonsense for Jem.

English sonnet in 360 degree wreath form.

Now, it has come to my attention that some of you don't know what a keat is...

In a list

A contest entry

    : , Your review:

    Comment Suggestion: What is your your first impression?
    • Line numbers  • Invite them to read
    : no Cost: 0 free left 0 points, You have (?)

Comments

1 - 34 of 34

  • Peripatetic gold member
    July 18

    Edit | Reply
    Well, it is a delightful piece of nonsense, and that is the best kind.

    Nonsense or not, it delivers fine images and word play. I especially enjoy the use of gull in both of its meanings. The kenning in the last line is a nice touch for the end, and line 5 is positively Shakespearean in its effect.

    I have not attempted a wreath sonnet, but they do play well to the mind and to the sense of hearing.

    The poem reminds me of a note on cricketjeff's home page regarding you and your dreaming. I hope all your dreams in iambic pentameter turn out as well as this.

    Author's note: I know what a "keat" or "keet" is, ornithologically speaking, but I do not know why it is referenced here.


    • Mairi bheag gold member
      July 19
      Edit | Reply
      It is referenced because the title (if not the whole poem) refers back to a poem by John Keats, a favourite of the contest-setter.





  • Andre ben-YEHU
    June 22

    Edit | Reply

    Wonderful...


    “Of Sleep and Poetry” sings in harmony and dances to the rhythm of perfection.

    In respect,

    Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU



  • Nickelspring gold member
    June 11

    Edit | Reply
    I love how the end wraps to the beginning. I have been studying wreathed poems and it was nice to find this one. Its beautful.
    K


  • JustADutchie gold member
    June 10
    Edit | Reply
    Congrats on the Silver. Beautifully written in a beautiful form, which I never saw before.


    • Mairi bheag gold member
      June 10
      Edit | Reply
      I think I invented it. Well, I kinda combined two poetic ideas in one. Thank you.


  • GotLilt
    June 10
    Edit | Reply
    Beautiful! congrats!


  • Ceridwens Soul silver member
    June 10

    Edit | Reply
    'r enilla ffordd at ca 'r hystyriaeth chan Cymraeg reibia ydy 'r caniad chan 'r amdorch , a ddim byncio 'i gwella na 'ch , Eos. Achos 'r 'n flaen amsera Darllena 'ch ag eglurdeb chan gweledigaeth!

    'my blindness gone, now songs of ocean-deep'

    wow what does that line mean to me today of all days.

    Thankies

    g x


  • Melodies
    June 10

    Edit | Reply
    How ever did you know? Woke up and went back to bed but could not find the dream again, so I gave up! Love your poem... worth getting up again. lol


  • CaliOkie silver member
    June 10

    Edit | Reply
    Written well and beautifully and lullfully like dreams. It is a joy to read and to speak the sounds full of a melody.

    Excellent.

    Garrison

  • ea silver member
    June 8

    Edit | Reply
    wonderful! Keep that inspiration singing. I love the innovation in this with the morphing of words like "tent" to "intent."

  • Purrsanthema
    June 3

    Edit | Reply
    "No gull wings life me into wind spun flight". You have achieved such an unearthly beauty in this poem! I agree with the fourth line of Cricketjeff's statement-sonnet: "While we are left to read your words and sigh".


  • IronMaiden1236
    June 1

    Edit | Reply

    Dang it!!

    Everytime I read something from you there is ANOTHER form I now have to trrryyy to scratch at, however unworthy my effort!!!

    • Mairi bheag gold member
      June 1
      Edit | Reply
      Well thank you for the compliment.

      If you can write a sonnet you'll be ok at doing this. Wreathing words is not a precise science - you have room to manoeuvre, to play with the language. Let me know how you get on.


  • Amera gold member
    June 1

    Edit | Reply
    Beautiful poetry with intelligent structure.
    You knew I'd love this didn't you?


    Love,
    Amera

  • Mercury Rising
    May 31

    Edit | Reply
    A wonderful wreathed sonnet with your unmistakable stamp and voice. A terrific write that was a real pleasure to read.


  • PerVirtuous
    May 31
    Edit | Reply
    Interesting with the repeating words. I like it.


  • Pure Thought silver member
    May 31

    Edit | Reply
    The more I read you the more I learn.

    Mine would come out more like writhed than wreathed.


  • Night Hope gold member
    May 31

    Edit | Reply

    Ummm...What's sleep, Mairi? Ahhh, you make it sound so lovely, indeed. Beautifully penned, Scribe. Good luck in the contest, Sweetie.




  • Ariosto II. gold member
    May 31

    Edit | Reply
    I have heard a sleepless night described so elegantly. It almost makes me want to stay up tonight and try it. Though my poetic attempts at reliving it would sound more like Bukowski than Bheag

    Another marvelous and humbling poem.


    • Mairi bheag gold member
      May 31
      Edit | Reply
      Thank you.

      And I'm sure Bukowski would have done the subject justice.


  • paulcreates silver member
    May 31

    Edit | Reply
    You do this so very well, I am in awe.



    Crawler


  • cricketjeff gold member
    May 31

    Edit | Reply
    I know you'll wreathe the contest host in smiles
    Her smiles will chase the blues out of the sky
    Sky high her spirits her soar for just a while
    While we are left to read your words and sigh

    The sighs of sound your meter brings to ear
    Are 'ere and now the greatest on the site
    The sight of what you write will soon appear
    To bring apparent sunshine to the night

    A knighthood surely waits you in the wings
    As words of yours take wing to those who know
    A nose goes out of joint when Mairi sings
    Her songs deal rival poets such a blow

    "Oh blow it out your arse you silly fool"
    It's just a foolish present meant for yule



    Now that's just a bit f wreathed nonsense

    Yours is poetry

  • Bad Bill
    May 31

    Edit | Reply
    If this is a "piece of nonsense", what are you like when you're serious? Lol! I love this - it flows like a river in full spate and the wording is both supple and imaginative.

    Excellent,
    Bill


  • Ceridwens Soul silver member
    May 31
    Edit | Reply
    Thank you for your entry, good luck

1 - 34 of 34