The Solitude of Sleep

Gold cherry

By onemorething

Thu, 18 Nov 2021
  • 3607 reads
20 comments
 

At midnight, I thought - a long-eared owl

is in hush-flight and hoo from a forsaken crow's nest

to see the black of a field vole's eye. 
 

And for a spell, break an owl's egg,

take an owlet's wing,

steep a feather. 
 

A shadow, the dreep

of a sky cat, how blood must sound

its hiss and simmer from a vein to her.

 

This matron of twilight, mother of night,

what moonish dreams

she might hear murmured. 
 

And I wish my own wishes, 

ear placed upon the chest of another -

there is nothing more intimate than a heartbeat. 
 

Before the solitude of sleep, 

beneath a window that frames

the darkness, where the tock-tock

 

of existence can fill a silence. Oh,

little vole, pulse quiet, life is never more

present than at its cessation. 

 

 

Image is from here: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asio_otus_by_John_Gould.jpg

 

Certificate U
Poem
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Comments

Submitted by celticman on

the intimacy of listening is showen. 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Listening is an intimacy, yes. Thank you for the cherries. 

 

Submitted by Ewan on

There is great beauty in your work. Looking forward to your collection. 

E x

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks Ewan, a few months to go. x

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

An absorbing poem of spiritual thought, especially as I recall you mentioned your love of owls. I found your poem very inspiring Rachel.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Oh yes, well remembered, Jenny. A childhood obsession slightly, but only slightly, tempered with age. Thank you for reading it and so glad you liked it. :)

 

Submitted by marandina on

I was right there in that quiet cacophony of different creatures. Beautiful, of course :)

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks Paul, was thinking the other night about all the creatures awake in the relative quiet whilst most of us are sleeping. I'm glad you liked it. :)

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

The stillness of the night - not really still - you've nailed it so beautifully onemore, thank you!

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks insert! x

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

I felt this lowering my blood pressure. Your poem has class, grace and an element of nocturnal escapism. I wish I had the stamina to stay awake all night and be a part of this magic world.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks Jane, that's really kind. I require no stamina which is partially good in that I do get to appreciate the deep quiet of night and dawn, but I wish I got more sleep! Still it's good for writing too, I guess! Thanks for taking the time to read it. :)

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Very stylish and informative as ever, Rachel, but forgive my ignorance: what is the meaning of 'hoo' in the second line?

Luigi x

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks Luigi, very happy you enjoyed it. The 'hoo' is for the 'hooo' hoot of a long-eared owl. Though saying that males and females make some odd noises. Perhaps I should have written 'hooo' to be clearer. I wondered if people would think my reference to a crow's nest strange too, but long-eared owls often use abandoned crows' nests for their own nests. Thanks for reading it, Luigi. x

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thought this was brilliant, death and sleep, the vole's pulse and the heart beat you are listening to, stillness in your room with tok tok the only sound,  and silent battles of survival going on outside .  Intense and beautiful, maybe one of your best, though hard to say as there are so many!

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks so much Di, very pleased you liked it and very kind! I suspect as a fellow insomniac that you know the late night world as well as I do. Thanks for reading it. :)

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This wonderful piece has stayed with me since I first read it - that's why it's our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day!

Please share/retweet if you feel the same

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Oh, that's very lovely, thanks so much! x

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

And to say that, it must be super good.

Absorbing , evocative ,intimate, brilliant, informative. Everybody has said these words. I am having a tough time thinking of another word to express my admiration for this piece.

It gives me goosebumps!

Ed

 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Ah, thanks so much Ed, goosebumps must be the best compliment. :)