Hour Twenty-Four – Above Image Prompt
The Best Naps
The best naps I’ve ever had
Were never on my bed
Where the duvet is warm, the sheets are clean
And pillows under my head.
Head lolling, body sliding sleep
in busses and ‘planes instead.
As students burning the midnight oil
We woke up in the morn
on books wet with sleep-soaked-drool
and pages creased and torn.
But fresh, we bounced, and went to class
in yesterday’s clothes we’d worn.
Now, when sleep is oft elusive
sometimes I do nap at night
When I fall asleep on the sofa
in the glare of the telly’s bright light
How deep that sleep, regular now
with eyes shut half tight.
But then I drag myself to bed
and shut my eyes to sleep
Alas, I’m wide awake now
and begin to count them sheep
All night long, I long for that nap
the memory of sleep so deep.
And since this was your hour 24 poem, I hope sleep wasn’t elusive for you – I could so relate to students burning the midnight oil and how when we most need rest, often we can’t fall asleep!
What an apt poem to end a 24-hour poetry marathon writing! The poem is fluid and pacey.
The libé about students burning the midnight oil brought back memories of exam week in university. A beautiful poèm .
Enjoyed this take on napping – in large part because yeah, my best naps have never been in a bed! Kudos…