When I Should Be Napping
I’m counting syllables in a poem
like medicinal drops of tincture
I’m writing the formula
on the back of a card
grabbed from the table by the bed
where I’m prone to lay
and tell only the truth
rather than lie
and be caught awake
________Colleen Redman / Poets United
February 12th, 2017 4:06 am
Should be napping or could be napping. It is only when we slow down that the beauty of language creeps into our weary bones, I think.
February 12th, 2017 8:40 am
Outstanding work, CR.
A little off-topic, but people should know: more outstanding CR poetry here: http://www.onesentencepoems.com/osp/colleen-redman-origami-moon/
Conga rats, Sister!
February 12th, 2017 10:10 am
I started to read the poem from the title as line 1, a lovely read…also like the wordplay…
February 12th, 2017 11:25 am
Awake we can tell the truth… but by the bedside we are close to dreams. Maybe we need a bit of both for our poetry
February 12th, 2017 12:49 pm
This is soo deeply touching!❤️
February 12th, 2017 1:29 pm
I enjoyed your beautiful words!
February 12th, 2017 1:34 pm
Haha, love this….not only because it’s relatable, but also for the play on words with lay and lie.
February 12th, 2017 4:18 pm
When the words come, you have to grab them….whenever they occur.
February 12th, 2017 7:04 pm
Love the last four lines. Yes, sometimes we want the truth, even if it’s not pretty or sweet. And sometimes we need tiny lies, especially the ones we tell ourselves, so that we can keep going.
February 12th, 2017 9:51 pm
That’s clever writing!
February 13th, 2017 6:37 am
Dreaming is encouraging lies so we are confused as to what is truth which is delightful until we wake up.
February 13th, 2017 7:49 am
Nice word play!
February 13th, 2017 9:55 am
My dreams don’t lie. Sometimes they are over dramatic but usually point to a truth, like “a myth is a lie that tells the truth.”
February 13th, 2017 12:37 pm
I tend to find truth in many dreams…signs left to uncover.
February 13th, 2017 7:59 pm
I wish I could be half as creative when I can’t sleep. (Pretty much given up on naps, but night time sleep …)