Insomnia Poem by Daniel Brick
Insomnia
For Baharak
I cannot see you, because the wall
of darkness is thicker than any made
of wood or metal. I cannot hear you,
because distance swallows sounds,
then carpets space in a deep silence
which nothing mortal can penetrate.
But these are not barriers for us: clouds
cannot stop the free flight of birds, and
mountains do not block dawn from casting
her transparent light into every dark place.
And so it is that you and I are both awake
in our distant homes and keep vigils
while all the others sleep and dream their
dreams. Once you watched over your family's
restful sleep and their peace and safety filled
you with a quiet nocturnal joy. Now it is as if
you keep the same wide-eyed vigil but it embraces
the whole world with its sympathy, a world plunged
into suffering and hate, on the edge of hopelessness,
whose people rejoice in the grace of your peaceful gaze.
Keeping awake for the sake of peace when others are sleeping- - -this noble cause unites souls thousand miles apart.Thanks for sharing.
Though mostly insomnia is really troublesome but if hope is alive, even a night of sleeplessness is bearable. To keep guard over others in the dark hours can bring comfort when the heart is lit by hope. The title is really clever as it makes the reader expect something disturbing but you give us a different n atypical concept of insomnia. A wonderful write. A10.
You're absolutely right, Nosheen. This is a true story. The person who told me doesn't suffer from insomnia: Her doctors say she doesn't need the sleep most people do. Being awake is her normal state. And that led me to the theme of a vigil.
daniel, this poem is charming. your voice, as it comes through, is steady and soothing. when i saw the title, it led me to expect something else, something about disturbance. instead i was pleasantly surprised by this idea of insomnia as compassionate vigil. and i liked the idea of you and the other miles apart on this globe joined in soul and spirit. somewhat related, i just wrote a poem with the title, one poem. nice. glen
Ir's a true story. The person doesn't really have insomnia which is a sleep disorder. She just doesn't need as much sleep as most people. And that's what led me to the theme of a vigil.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/18/2024 9:29:22 PM # 1.0.0.1119
Keeping night vigil what a wonderful thing. Breathing out in love to a sleeping world. Holding them in your heart. I love this image Daniel of you and your long distance friend instead of bemoaning the lack of sleep you are the Bodhisattva reaching out in love and compassion to a broken world. Beautiful! ! ! ! ! ! ! Just Beautiful! ! ! ! ! ! ! When I was a monk we rose at 3.30am to do silent night vigil. I loved this quiet time when the world is asleep and the only sound is coyotes, loons and owl. When I was young the old monk said the job of the monk is to carry the world in her heart.