Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Nightmares

Last week, my friend and fellow poet Henry Clemmons posted a poem about nightmares. This afternoon when I sat down to write his poem was still in my head, so I thought I'd run with it. Thanks Henry; and please, poets, send your week's thoughts to dVerse OpenLinkNight!

Nightmares

The night-fears return,
a little green man
with clicking teeth

and omnipotent eyes,
fingers pungent red
gripping a corner, any corner,

leveraging a feline pounce
to send me running,
running, I cannot see

my unsteady footfall
pounding on
and on —

terror, stale-tasting
like motionless basement air,
and if it weren’t for nightmares

we’d want to close our eyes
and sleep all
the live-long day.

36 comments:

  1. "leveraging a feline pounce" ... I like this line. And this:

    "terror, stale-tasting
    like motionless basement air"

    And isn't the ending the truth?

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    1. Thanks henna, we don't actually have basements where I live, but I remember playing in my Mamaw's basement as a child.

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  2. smiles...yes perhaps the nightmares keep us from living in dream land and actually getting a few things done...ha...the clicking teeth...ack...smiles.

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    1. Thanks Brian--nightmares are good for something after all!

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  3. I'm reading this just as I go to bed- pray those little green men don't come visiting

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    1. Thanks Bjorn, hope you slept a peaceful sleep.

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  4. Oh lord, I have never experienced little green men and never hope to. Thank goodness I am not one who (usually) has nightmares.

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    1. Thanks Mary, this character actually was a constant feature of my childhood nightmares. Funny how vivid dreams can stay with you over the years.

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  5. Scary! I wouldn't want to sleep either.

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    1. Thanks Laurie--so far I've been quick enough to stay out of the green man's grasp!

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  6. I wouldn't mind sleeping all the live-long day....even with a nightmare or two. but they definitely do make it harder to return to peaceful slumber. and I might miss reading all this wonderful poetry that spills put into cyberspace.

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    1. Thanks RMP--I agree, poetry is a good reason to stay awake.

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  7. You have described nightmares very well:

    terror, stale-tasting
    like motionless basement air~

    Good to see you Nico ~

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    1. Thanks Grace, strange details and associations in dreams are fascinating. The human mind is a funhouse and haunted house all rolled into one!

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  8. The nightmares that rake our spirits..leads us to fear..hope better dreams are on their way..

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    1. Thanks Truedessa--better dreams are always just around the corner.

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  9. Excellent description of nightmares, nico. Yours is the second nightmare poem I have read this evening.

    Pamela

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    1. Thanks Pamela--yeah, what's up with the nightmare theme here lately?

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  10. Dang. I'd be happy to sleep just through the night. I like your descriptions of those "things" and the feeling of running...so exhausting.

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    1. Thanks Victoria--I heard a Yale professor of psychology say that the most common dream is that of being chased. Interesting.

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  11. leveraging a feline pounce:
    really delivers on fulcrum, fear and motion.
    the whole has an air of tension
    which is vital and sustains the energy,
    awarding that essential
    creep and claustrophobia
    gripping the attention . . .
    and throat.

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    1. Thanks Arron--I think that tension is critical to a good nightmare!

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  12. this made me remember some of the night fears of my youth..luckily i very seldom have night mares nowadays..the motionless basement air grabbed me most here as it comes with a scent..

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    1. Thanks Claudia--yeah, I prefer the sweet dreams.

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  13. I'd sleep in the day to avoid having nightmares...

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  14. a little green man with clicking teeth...now that would scare me... a great description of nightmares...must say have had my share of late hoping I don't see any green men this evening! :)

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    1. Thanks Di--hopefully the nightmares fade away soon.

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  15. Dreams like that would keep me awake for sure. Nicely penned, Nico.

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  16. it's late here - i will surely have to check for the little green man before i go to bed.
    sucks that i'm too lod for a night light... ugh.
    click
    click
    click click

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    1. Thanks Miriam--night lights only help when you're awake!

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  17. I've been chased in my dreams all of my life. Night terrors where screams won't come out no matter how hard I try. I hope the green man doesn't step forward tonight. Well written :)

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  18. A good capture of nightmares, nicely done.

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