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bottles filled with pipe dreams
messages from the deep
bottles filled with pipe dreams
surface as i sleep
Four o'clock this morn
might as well be day
four o'clock this morn
throwing dreams away
Four o'clock this morn
nothing but a game
four o'clock this morn
no one left to blame
In summer it's already daylight at four o'clock...
ReplyDeleteThe repetition works well here - makes me thing of those thoughts that won't go away at 4am!
ReplyDeleteThe idea of insomnia....or waking up extremely early as something that means we throw away our dreams....I understand that. At the very least, our dreams desert us when we wake so early. And the idea of pipe dreams....I'm smiling because to me, pipe dreams mean the ones that are unrealistic....I tend to "dream" those in daydreams :)
ReplyDeleteA thought provoking write! :)
Insomnia always hits me at around this time of night. I can identify!
ReplyDeleteHelen,
ReplyDeleteThe forlorn ending, "no one left to blame," really tops off the 4 A.M. despair, restlessness, nicely captured by the repetition. Clever and effective.
pax,
dora
If I'm awake at 4 or 5am and can't fall back asleep, I convince myself that if I just get up I'll be tired enough to fall right asleep at the end of the day. Why doesn't it work?
ReplyDeleteThe questions in the middle of the night often seem insurmountable and endless. Though for me, 4 AM is close to getting up time anyway.
ReplyDeleteThose sleepless hours seem to haunt us, usually I try to slip into a lucid dream, I feel like I have some sort of control over my destination.
ReplyDeleteI'm an habitual early riser, rarely still in bed as "late" as 5AM; but I haven't always been such, and can certainly relate to this fine work Thanks!
ReplyDeleteStrong Helen. Pulled me right in to the feeling I have, as I am about to conclude another short night of restless “sleep”. I churn there in bed, thinking perhaps I sm awake, until the scene chsnges drastically and I finally realize — yes, now I sm awake. So surreal are mornings! Well written Helen
ReplyDeleteAh, I love this piece and can resonate with it. The despair, pain, and ache is palpable; and we often come to these reflections at night when we should be asleep. Thoughts that linger around, dreams, moments thrown away. Things I could have, should have, would have done...
ReplyDeleteI feel that. Beautifully penned.
Dearest Helen,
ReplyDeleteSo many four o'clock morns were my/our call. Helping my Parents out in the greenhouses always was an early call! Before going to high school...
While being international consultants, it were many at that hour due to travel and our routine in Indonesia for the three years was sleeping in till FIVE!
But we never ought to throw away dreams!!!
Hugs,
Mariette
our o'clock morn
ReplyDeletenothing but a game
Good that you show different people do different things at 4 o'clock in the morning.Not an unearthly hour after all, Helen!
Hank
oh. the repetition worked so well here. the frustration and the calm tugging wars.
ReplyDeleteI'm singing this in Leonard Cohen's voice. Very smooth, deep, and hypnotic.
ReplyDeleteOh, I can relate. I have seen far too many of those 4AMs, when my alarm sounds at 5AM. The repetition works wonderfully here.
ReplyDeletefeeling the melancholy in this one! Those wee hours in the morning can mess with us! 💗
ReplyDeleteMy TV is my companion for the wide=awakes. I find some home decorating show and it's sure to put me to sleep! I LOVE your poetic style, Helen. It's special and it's so you!
ReplyDeleteA four o'clock morn where dreams have slipped away. Relatable. Writing a poem is a great way to feel what has passed and let it go.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Well, if you gotta be awake at 4 am, you might as well catch the sunrise, right? Thanks for sharing ~peace, and a good night's rest, Jason
ReplyDeleteI understand that feeling of being awake too early, dreams dissipating and other things creeping into our thoughts. Lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteAt least the robins will keep you company.
ReplyDeleteYou picked a good set to repeat, it fits all your choices and I'm sure you could have written several more. I set the alarm for anything important but have little trouble sleeping late.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Jim gets up to go back to sleep again in her, or my, recliner, lulled by an old "Murder She Wrote" TV program. Back when I would get up at four, make a cup of decaf and a couple peanut butter cracker sandwiches, and go up to sleep on the guest room bed. Adi Beagle Dog would accompany me. All that doesn't fit easily with your poem.
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I love that you have abused a “tick tock” beat to your poem as it relates to those times when we should be asleep but we can only hear a clock ticking away time until we have to get up! 😩
ReplyDeletealso not a fan of the 4 am face on the clock ~
ReplyDelete