Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

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Corner Pub #2

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

junemac
Senior Member

since 2003-04-24

Posts 1005
uk

0 posted 2005-09-06 02:52 PM

for John Merrick (Elephant Man ) 1862- 1890

The true story of John Merrick and the suffering he went through, inspired me to write this poem. He was suspected to have committed suicide by laying down in bed and the weight of his deformed and heavy head caused his death. He was found dead in a prone position, even though he was of high intelligence and was fully aware of the fact that he would die if he lay down flat. He had imparted more than a few times his desire to sleep like ordinary folk on a pillow in bed.

To nestle deep in down,

granted like an ordinary man.

Suffering is my destiny in wake,

but oh to lay prone and dream.

In curtained cloths I tire of life

reversal of repulsion.

I seek not pity, nor even love.

Hand back your fame and friendship.

I look back to find the point of this,

in freak-show, pain and poverty.

Grow weary under the weight of pity,

and endless curiosity of children.

Oh to nestle deep in down,

to drift away on soft white feather.

unlock the dreams of ordinary man,

and let them soak my pillow.

.

And now I lay me down to sleep...

Joyce Johnson

Member Rara Avis

since 2001-03-10

Posts 9912
Washington State

1 posted 2005-09-06 04:39 PM

This is wonderful June. i had heard of the Elephant man which of course was a man suffering from a terrible disease, butI had not heard this part of the tale. How heavenly it must have been to lay his head and how strong he must have been to resist the urge for so long. love, Joyce

Trillium

Member Patricius

since 2001-03-09

Posts 12098
Idaho, USA

2 posted 2005-09-07 05:23 PM

Dear June: This is such a compassionate and sensitive write! You did a wonderful job with a difficult subject. Thanks for sharing.

Love
Betty Lou

Betty Lou Hebert

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

3 posted 2005-09-19 11:13 AM

June~
So sad was his story ... thank you for bringing it back to mind~
*Huglets*
~*Marge*~

~*When the heart grieves over what it has lost,
the spirit rejoices over what it has left.
- Sufi epigram <))><

Email noles1@totcon.com

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