Friday, February 11, 2011

Insomniac Night




Listen to audio version:



When the insomniac night finally ends,
I am here as I have always been, watching
light break the dark horizon, trying to keep time
with some rhyme and reason.

Should I let go and abandon this dreaming?
Or dare I walk towards the dawning of a new day
measured by the sway of my uncertain movement

towards a vague destination where I might find
some tangible sign for living

like the pulse
of a lover
waiting for me there.

Incessant is my desire to name these dark roads,
to scan the landscape of my vision
so I might know if I’m coming
or going.

Incessant is my need for what I cannot name,
for what’s been lost, what’s been gained.

Feel the sacrifice.

Fear.

Passion.

Power.

I am helpless
against this blinding,
limitless,
unceasing
need.

There is no map to mark the wanderings of a soul
made restless by insatiable desire to stay
the winding course towards what eludes it.

Incessant,
I will die
if i must,
but I will not
give up.

© Ami Mattison

* Insomniac Night was inspired by the song "Incessant" by Sonia Tetlow.







Flickr photo courtesy of Mara ~earth light~


8 comments:

  1. WOW! WOW! WOW! Incredible the poem! Incredible the recitation!

    Cheers
    Padmavani

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  2. I am glad to see the share facility, so here it goes into FB and Twitter!

    Padmavani

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  3. Thank you, Padmavani! It makes me happy that you enjoyed it!

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  4. I love the cadence of spoken word poetry; I thought maybe you could try this:

    There is no map to mark the wanderings of a soul
    made restless by insatiable desire to stay
    the winding course towards 'that which' eludes it.

    Instead of 'what'. just try it in your mouth and see how it feels to you.

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  5. It's so interesting to read the text then hear you perform it, to both hear and see where you put the emphasis. Enjoyed this.

    I like how your use of words like pulse, restless, and the line "a day measured by the sway of my uncertain movement" reflect the cadence.

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  6. nice...yes dont ever give up...its all a journey you know...between here and there make sure you enjoy it...

    you are quickly becoming one of my favorite online poets ami...

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  7. Thanks, everyone, for commenting! I appreciate that you took the time to listen and read.

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