Upright Midnight
Our night’s rest should meander, releasing us to dreams,
but my sleep took me on a trip down other sorts of streams
with rapids, eddies, waterfalls that jarred me rough awake.
I think that just one night like it is all that I could take.
Whenever I lay prone, I had another bout of coughing—
with one hack executed, another in the offing.
I could not lay my head down to soothe myself to sleep.
Instead I slept bolt upright, my covers in a heap
around me on the sofa as a cough jarred me awake.
Sleeping upright on the sofa does not sweet dreaming make.
I longed for my soft bed and former slumbering meanders
through crisp rows of wheat stalks and banks of oleanders
in search of something still unknown, a peaceful all-night search
for those soulful comforts I never found at church.
My mother’s laughter once again, my father’s joking ways
waiting just around the bend of this nightly maze.
Instead, I’ve barely three hours sleep in between my wheezes—
my dreams propelled by cyclones instead of gentle breezes.
The cold germ is not neighborly. It visits when it pleases
and brings unwanted hostess gifts of drips and coughs and sneezes.
As you may have guessed, I’ve come down with a miserable cold. Two poems in one night, one while I was still trying to stay in bed, then another after I moved to sit upright on the couch which at least furnished a half hour of sleep now and then between the coughing bouts. The prompt today is meander.
I know spring is ALMOST here because I got an estimate from the builder for repairs. Surely that screams “spring.” Feel better very soon!!
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Ha.
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Feel better, dear Judy!
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Feel better soon! I resonated with this, as I also have a minor cold. Was reading and drinking tea for a few hours in the middle of the night myself.
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Hope you feel better soon, your brain is obviously not fogged up!
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I send you hopes for feeling better and accolades that you could write such a wonderful poem on having a cold. Kudos, my fellow blogger.
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Thanks, Isaiah 46. It took my mind off my misery for awhile.
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I hope you sleep better tonight, and get enough rest to feel better very soon!
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Me, too, Janet. It is horrible to be so sleepy and not be able to sleep. I have new sympathy for insomniacs.
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Feel better, I see you already have a variety of fluids to keep drinking, so good for you! It’s about this time I start craving something horrible for me. Don’t you love sneezing on the computer? Keep wipes handy!😂
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Ha!!! Are you clairvoyant? Just did this. Presently drinking electrolytes as all my herbal teas seem to make my throat worse, not better.
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Worked for me last month.🤗☺️
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OMG – Judy – I advise you to have a persian black tea, this will be a great help for balance and good night asleep!!
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I have a feeling Persian black tea would be hard to find in Mexico, but thanks for the kind words, M….
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Or May be Mexican Tea – Mexican tea culture is known for its traditional herbal teas which are reputed to have medicinal properties
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I’m just feeling so sympathetic for you. I’m full of prayers for all that cheer and comfort to return to you.
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Thanks..feeling pretty lousy but just gargled with hot salt water and it has helped the most. Appreciate your good wishes.
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I like ginseng tea and honey for a sore throat, but salt water cleanses it best,
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Salt water is a miracle. My throat will be absolutely raw and after gargling three times, all the pain goes away..
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Your blog only gives me the choice to “like.” I like your poem a lot, but do not “like” the fact that you have a cold!! Hope you get over it quick! Hot toddies are nice, in that even if they don’t work, they make you feel warm and fuzzy
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Hi Lynn. Yolanda made me go to the dr. today and glad I did. Feel a little bit better but still absolutely zero energy. It was nice having you here and thanks for the final dinner. Let me know where you are next alighting.
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Oh, I hope you feel better soon Judy! Nasty cold, but it inspired a great poem and the perfect response to “meander.” 🙂
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Sorry to hear you are sick but it did generate a couple of poems. 🙂 Hope you feel better fast!
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There’s always that!
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