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Open Poetry #49
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Night's Pillow
| Open Poetry #49 |
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Night's Pillow |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa 
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https://soundcloud.com/diana-van-den-berg-2/nights-pillow The corners of the night curl around my drowsy thoughts and the pregnant silence gives easy birth to froggy song backed by hypnotising cricket hum and peace cocoons me in its tender embrace. I smile a languorous last goodnight at my forest sentinels on guard around the house and slip softly into the secret glade of sleep. Owl |
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Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
Owl your poem was like a lullaby. I swear my early morning eyes began to droop. Your words gave the calm contentedness of a patchwork quilt. The word "languorous" put me in mind of a feline draped across its special spot, oblivious to the world.  |
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secondhanddreampoet Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394a 'Universalist' ! |
lovely 'lulliby' sleepytime imagery! |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Very, very well phased, my friend - it caught me listening with closed eyes; peaceful and sedate. j. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Lori! I am so glad that it brought you such calm contentedness! I love that you described it as that of a patchwork quilt. You will well know how much I loved your picture of “a feline draped across its special spot, oblivious to the world”! (Stroke your kitty cat for me from Auntie Di, please.) Owl |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Bruce. I hope it lulled you to sleep!  Owl |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Jimmy! I am so glad it had that effect on you! Owl |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Owls.I love the way you put your words together. This is lovely. Jo |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Martyjo, for your kind words. Owl |
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2islander2 Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825by the sea |
hi Diana, i felt the sweet atmosphere of a farm in Africa, the words are dazzling and very resourceful (i hope i don't miss my translation) yann |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Yann, for your beautiful comment. Owl |
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
Diana, “slip softly into the secret glade of sleep” I have always wondered where and when that point of slipping into sleep is. I think you explained it very well; this had a very special warm and gentle emotional thought-kneading effect. Enjoyed the message! JL Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
What a lovely reply, JL! Good to hear from you again. I am glad you enjoyed it so much and that it was the long-awaited answer to your question. |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
I think reading you might cure my insomnia, Diana. Ida |
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Gale Senior Member
since 2013-06-10
Posts 578Russia |
Peaceful and beautiful! I enjoyed your night poem, Diana |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Besides being very honoured that you say so, Ida, it would make me very happy to cure you of insomnia, Ida! Thank you! Thank you, Galina! I am glad you enjoyed it so much. Owl |
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katahdin Senior Member
since 2010-07-01
Posts 1196ME. In the Shadow of the Mt. |
This is so beautiful, enjoyed! bump back to the top! Kat >^..^< |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you so much, Kitty Cat for your lovely comment. Did you see the email I sent you some time back about my Owl signature that you helped me with? Owl |
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Redstart Senior Member
since 2014-05-16
Posts 535 |
Beautifully constructed poem. It soothes with its gentle touch. 'secret glade of sleep'. I love that phrase. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Redstart, for your kind words and for feeling my poem so well. Owl |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Diana.... Probably one of the more sensuous poems you've ever written. So glad I peeked in this evening. Thank you. Maybe recalling these words tonight...I might sleep. Thank you! |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you for your kind words, Karilea. Not wishing to be contentious, but I have posted a lot of poems that are a lot more sensuous than this, and the really sensuous ones I don't post, lol! I would be very happy if you are able to sleep tonight and every night, and I would be honoured if my poem helps. I actually wrote a poem with the specific intention of helping those with insomnia. I would have to look up and see what the title is and if I have posted it here. If I have, I will come back here and give you its title. That should help even more than this one. It worries me to know that there are (especially so many) people who struggle to sleep. In my whole life of 69 years, I have lain awake for a couple of hours, maybe 2 or 3 times, but even then, I think it was probably intentional in order to think something through - I don't think I have ever actually struggled to sleep. So, I am very lucky indeed as I don't know - and can't begin to imagine - what it must be like to suffer from insomnia. It must be awful and have all sorts of negative repercussions, in both the short and long term. Owl |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Karilea, I have found the poem that I wrote to try to help insomniacs. It is called, 'Let Yourself Sleep'. I also wrote one to try to help people who experience writers' block, and so I was confused as to whether it was that one or this one posted here. I did post it here, but that was the first version. I have since edited it to include more, so I will copy it in here instead of giving you the link: LET YOURSELF SLEEP 28 October 2012 Late in the night when your work is done and your fires are out turn out the harsh light and pull the panflute lullabies of darkness around you like a caress and open your clenched mind in wild, liberating abandon wide . . . wide . . wide for endless summer days’ sun and song; feel soft beachsand fill the hollows of your back and listen to the wavelets rush up the beach to lull you and let them tumble softly into the dream-spaces of your mind before they wash the remnants of your worry-thoughts away . . . away . . . away to dissolve into the ocean blue and let sleep’s secret longings pour into your waiting mind the peace that passeth all understanding until you are floating . . . floating . . . floating and immerse yourself in the moment’s grace in the embrace of sleep, long and deep, long and deep, a healer of the day’s woes and a bolster to take the morrow’s sorrows and joys as thorns and roses. Savour with thankfulness, Sleep, blessed, glorious, beloved Sleep, delicious, nutritious satiating feast for the wearied body, the bewildered mind and the hungry soul sleep . . . sleep . . . sleep, glorious sleep, deep. ___________________________________________________ I put it in a separate reply in case it is missed in the above (long) reply, in the hopes that it may help others too. It may not help you sleep tonight, Karilea, but I hope it does. Owl |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
nice...james |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thanks James. Owl |
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Richy Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 3050 |
so great to read you again Owl.. "and the pregnant silence gives easy birth to froggy song backed by hypnotising cricket hum and peace cocoons me in its tender embrace." absolutely splendid! |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Richy. Glad you liked it. |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
quote: Great imagery in this one. Nicely done. Michael |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Michael, for your kind words. Owl |
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Spiros Zafiris Senior Member
since 2002-10-20
Posts 982Canada |
..yes the lyricism of Owl..always a smooth read to please Poetry Herself..>>spiros ~ |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Lovely to see you again, Spiros! Thank you for your beautiful and kind reply. |
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devina Member Elite
since 1999-10-28
Posts 3539Cali |
what a beautiful piece! sensual and soothing ~d Open arms can be the most fragile in the world... |
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EmmaRose Senior Member
since 2011-03-02
Posts 1376Midwest |
Such a simple thing like sleep gets too complicated, thanks for the refreshing reminder of our need for something all the money in the world cannot buy |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you for your beautiful reply, devina. Owl |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, EmmaRose, for your reply. I am very lucky never to struggle to sleep. It pains me that so many struggle to do so. In fact I wrote a poem to try to help insomniacs, but it is difficult for me to understand a problem that I don't have, though I tried. Owl |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Many might hear night's sounds and be annoyed... you choose to slip into slumber feeling serene and at peace. This is a beautiful snapshot... and a beautiful choice!! |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you very much for your beautiful reply, Ruth. |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Diana, Just popped in to read a few poems and here you are not only writing and posting but a special poem full of wise words to help those who do not sleep. As a night person I tend to stay up until by the time I go to bed, I easily fall into a sound sleep. If not I also have a talk radio station and the droning of others speaking works to send me off to dreamland. thank you for this relaxing post. JO |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
It is always heartwarming to hear from and about your lovely self, Martyjo. Thank you for reading and enjoying and your warm words. |
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