Quantum Insomnia
“...entangled with each other so, unsleeping one,
we will outsleep the night.”
Galway Kinnell
Galway was a Buddhist.
What does that mean, I wonder.
I also wonder if hooks was. And yet…
when Rob Halford dressed his aubade,
Before the Dawn in leather and chrome,
when Lynyrd Skynyrd tookThree Steps
to measure Free Bird‘s world, the night
erupted into a million swaying flames
and we knew, even then we knew. Just so…
there is an idea that lodges itself in the wind
it consumes even the most ardent of lovers,
makes it seem there is a way to a better place
in the doing, the not doing or, leaving. Maybe
it is just in knowing that a person can become
with you — the best exaltation of this existence.
given choice, I’d rather not wake
to a way of being, just stay asleep
in this stream — with you — entangled,
attempt to outsleep the night — with you.
23 thoughts on "Quantum Insomnia"
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an insomniac attempting to outsleep the night! i love how it switches from lying on the left to lying onthe right and back again
We laughed so hard tonight listening to an old tape of Garrison Keillor reading The Galway poem…it was smoldering 🙂
In the last stanza I admire how the tone shifts toward ode,-it builds in intimacy
Thank you Shaun. I was wondering if it worked to toss and turn it and then settle.it down…thank you for saying something about it.
Agree with Shaun, re shift to intimacy, last stanza does just that and lands the poem well.
And these words make me smile:
attempt to outsleep the night — with you.
rocking this beat style, Colester.
Coleman, your poems are far out this year lol I’m digging this.
This poem captures not just the tossing and turning with right and left orientation, but also the way the mind just keeps rambling from thought to thought, ceaselessly, when we can’t sleep. Nice work!
Interesting justification in this poem. Almost as an act of justifying.
Galway Kinnell, yes! You had me hooked there. I love the musical references. The last stanza is intimate and tender. What a beautiful poem, Coleman.
i often wonder what will be left
when entanglement is gone
— the best exaltation of this existence. – is this poem itself. I’m so glad you shared it
Outsleeping the night—cool idea. I do it too sometimes, but all by myself 😩
So much heaviness and timeliness reading your poem this morning, Coleman.
Thank you for sharing. This is seriously next level in its tenderness and its quiet message.
Thank you Joseph.
Love the shift at the end, it makes the poem
Thank you for reading it and seeing the Shift.
Very well written Coleman. You are crafting some great poems.
What a love poem. And I love everything about it, Particularly the gorgeous ending:
given choice, I’d rather not wake
to a way of being, just stay asleep
in this stream — with you — entangled,
attempt to outsleep the night — with you.
Elaine, thank you so much😊
A little secret about that part.
This stream is a labial assimilation with , this dream……just a fun little easter egg 😀
Romantic poets look out – there’s a new sheriff in town
Lololololololololololol….herself makes it so easy ……lololol
I like how the poem goes high and how. References to Buddhism and Judas Priest! You cover Lynyrd Skynyrd and quantum entanglement.