Wednesday 5 October 2011

ON INSOMNIA (2)

I seem to have conquered the insomnia, for which relief much thanks. Someone suggested I might be hungry, which seemed an absurd idea, til I tried eating dinner very slightly later, and drinking some hot milk before bed, and then it was suddenly seven a.m. and I'd not woken once and all that day my synapses snapped and sang with delight at not having my thoughts mediated through a fog of dull exhaustion.

I am very much hoping I shall stay sleeping soundly from now on, and plan to read this wonderful Fleur Adcock poem every night in bed as a talisman to ward off further bouts of insomnia.

There are worse things than having behaved foolishly in public.
There are worse things than these miniature betrayals,
committed or endured or suspected; there are worse things
than not being able to sleep for thinking about them.
It is 5 a.m. All the worse things come stalking in
and stand icily about the bed looking worse and worse

and worse.





3 comments:

Herschelian said...

That is one of my fave poems - she hits it right on the head, those worse things standing round glaring at you as you toss and turn!

Alison Cross said...

That's a great poem - not come across that before. So true, the creatures that stalk us at 4am are often worse than the original issue!

Glad to hear that your problem is sorted. Keep a bit of shortbread by the bed in case you need it!

Ali x

Thea said...

There's something about that poem that reminds me of E. Bishop's The Art of Losing.

Lovely: thank you.