Insomnia
There are nights when you cannot fall asleep,
you toss and turn, but sleep will not come.
Your mind is too awake with things you must do
you cannot stay in bed anymore.
You get up and watch the clock
as time ticks remorselessly by
and ask yourself why is happening to me?
Insomnia they call it.
As you grow older less sleep you need,
or at least that is how it feels to me.
You have too many things
occupying your mind
sitting there alone
in the middle of the night
doing some of the things you have to do.
Hoping to clear your head
of some of the thoughts running through it
while waiting for your body to say
I am tired now.
5 November 2008
poem by David Harris

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Related quotes
Id Kill To Fall Asleep
Eyes open, I'm wide awake
I feel I'm in a coma state
I'll lay here on my back and watch the fan turn
Conversations cross my mind, but nothing of the speaking kind
TV images repeat there one lines
Back and forth I toss and turn
It feels like strings are holding up my eyes
I'd kill to fall asleep
I'd kill to fall asleep
Putting up a losing fight
I'll never see this end tonight
The thought of just one dream it consumes me
Numbers on the clock turn back, my pills are having no affect
The beating of my heart keeps the time going
Back and forth I toss and turn
It feels like strings are holding up my eyes
I'd kill to fall asleep
I'd kill to fall asleep
They say that when you sleep your body's at rest
I wouldn't know what sleep felt like if I tried my best
Polaroids and memories can fade away, so can I...
Back and forth I toss and turn
It feels like strings are holding up my eyes
I'd kill to fall asleep
I'd kill to fall asleep
I'd kill to fall asleep
I'd kill to fall asleep
I'd kill....
song performed by by New Found Glory

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Constant Static
Eyes open, I'm wide awake
I feel I'm in a coma state
I'll lay here on my back and watch the fan turn
Conversations cross my mind, but nothing of the speaking kind
TV images repeat there one lines
Back and forth I toss and turn
It feels like strings are holding up my eyes
I'd kill to fall asleep
I'd kill to fall asleep
Putting up a losing fight
I'll never see this end tonight
The thought of just one dream it consumes me
Numbers on the clock turn back, my pleas are having no affect
The beating of my heart keeps the time going
Back and forth I toss and turn
It feels like strings are holding up my eyes
I'd kill to fall asleep
I'd kill to fall asleep
They say that when you sleep your body's at rest
I wouldn't know what sleep felt like if I tried my best
Polaroids and memories can fade away, so can I...
Back and forth I toss and turn
It feels like strings are holding up my eyes
I'd kill to fall asleep
I'd kill to fall asleep
I'd kill to fall asleep
I'd kill to fall asleep
I'd kill....
song performed by by New Found Glory

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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~Insomnia~
No sight
Insomnia
I dream
I'm awake
I sleep
Mingle between both
Insomnia
Blurry
Fuzzy
Awake all night
I'm not alone
Insomnia
No sleep
I'm tired
Dusk is death
Dawn is suicide
Insomnia
Less sleep
I'm awake more
Time slips
Lake of sleep
Insomnia
Rain of dreams
Lucid yet unclear
I reach
Grasp nothing
Insomnia
Awake
Asleep
Both
Same time
Insomnia
poem by Andrew John Morra

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Insomnia
Im running in quicksand
Somethings haunting me
The guilty past Ive buried
My mind wont let me sleep
Ill do anything for peace - I keep waking up
A solemn oath I make
Cross my heart please let me sleep - I keep waking up
How much more do I take
My head is talking to me
I dont know what it needs
But the loudest voice
Is the one I heed
Insomnia, my swollen bloodshot eyes
Insomnia, awake till morning light
Insomnia, stirring deep inside
Insomnia, somebody turn out the lights
I cant sleep - insomnia
Im twisting and turning - I keep waking up
The madness I must tame
My candle is burning - I keep waking up
Both ends again today
The whole house is creaking
I know theyre out there
The things kept from sight
I beg to the shadows
I cant sleep
Insomnia, footsteps on the walk
Insomnia, I hear someone knock
Insomnia, I wish it was a dream
Insomnia, can you hear me scream
song performed by by Megadeth

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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How Can I Sleep?
How can I sleep when the nights are long,
too long to be in bed?
The pull of the pen is calling me,
too many words in my head.
There's not enough time. Why waste it on sleep?
too many things to write.
I hear the words call out to me
too often in the night.
But what care I about the time?
It's the words I care about.
For the body when tired can always sleep
and my thoughts would probably doubt
my sincerity to this purposeful quest
to connect my mind with the page.
I have dedicated my waking hours
too often as I age.
How can I sleep when the nights are long,
too long to be in bed?
That can be left for a future time
when I've nothing left to be said.
poem by Edwina Reizer

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The Walking Dead
I don’t sleep too well anymore.
I’m usually awake in the morning by 4: 00
I look at the clock and say “Oh no! ”
Should I stay in bed and lie awake
or start my day early with a coffee break?
I’m ready for a nap in the morning by 10: 00.
But then I’d have to start my day all over again.
I’m not a good napper. I hear every sound.
I’m like a ball of string that’s tightly wound
but coming loose at the end.
Now REM sleep, what’s that about?
That’s something I think I’ve done without
for too darn long. It’s a female woe.
A man hits the pillow and off he’ll go.
He’s asleep before you can say goodnight.
It’s obvious it gets worse the older I get.
There’s a clock in my head that must be set
with an alarm that goes off at 4: 00 in the morn.
I wish I could sleep like when I was born.
But that’s not gonna happen soon.
So here I am deprived of sleep.
I’ve tried everything, even counting sheep
but the darn fleecy things keep on comin’
and in my head I hear a drummin’
sayin, ” get up, get up, and get out of bed.
Most times I feel like the walking dead.
poem by Edwina Reizer

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Summer Nights
Oh, how I hate these hot summer nights,
When a good night's sleep is far from sight.
Lying on my bed, I constantly toss and turn,
While the air around me continuously burns.
My window is slightly ajar to let in some air;
I wonder if I'd be slightly cooler downstairs.
I have rolled down my blanket and my sheet,
But despite doing all this, I still feel the heat.
I watch the clock and the time ticks on by,
But, I just can't sleep, however hard I try.
Feeling restless in the middle of the night,
I climb out of bed and switch on the light.
Feeling so far away from the Land Of Nod,
I sit reading a book and then I play my iPod.
I'm having a bad night, and am not impressed:
I didn't sleep much last night, and need my rest.
As the night draws on, slightly cooler air arrives,
But, by this time, the clock has just struck five.
I hear the little birds singing out at dawn,
And it is only then that I give a big yawn.
My eyelids feel heavy and begin to close,
And, after sleepless hours, I begin to doze.
Finally, I fall asleep: inside my soul feels calm,
But a short time later, I'm woken by the alarm.
By now, my room is flooded by brilliant sunlight;
But I want to stay in bed, with my eyes shut tight.
I feel like I'm almost dead, rather than refreshed;
I certainly don't feel anywhere near my very best.
I don't have much energy: I've no get up and go,
And when I do get up, my movements are slow.
I wish that the temperature at night would dip,
Then I could finally get some much needed kip.
poem by Angela Wybrow

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Can't Fall Asleep
My thoughts keep me up at night,
my tears put me to sleep,
my dreams wake me up,
after only an hour of sleep.
I can't rest no more,
I can't fall back to sleep,
so I lie in bed for hours at a time,
watching the clock as the time keeps going by.
I toss and I turn,
trying to find something comforable,
but when I'm almost asleep,
my thoughts wake me up again.
So I lay there thinking the thoughts,
that wont leave me alone.
I try time and time again,
but I cant fall back to sleep.
Finally I fall asleep,
but then i quickly hear a noise,
it is my alarm telling me to get up for the day ahead,
but it doesnt realize that I've been up all night.
Thinking, thinking of those thoughts that won't let me sleep.
So I quickly turn off the annoying buzzing noise,
and there I lay in my bed,
dreading the day ahead.
poem by Rebeckah Schroeder

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Tickity Tick Tock
can't sleep.
don't sleep.
won't sleep.
shan't sleep.
never sleep.
never sleep.
never sleep.
tick tock
tick tock
tickity tick
tock
tock
tock
the little hand drills a hole into my tired mind.
can't
tick
don't
tock
won't
tick
shan't
tock
never
tick
nev er
tock
never sleep
the clock keeps ticking
as my mind struggles to keep up
too many ticks.
too many tocks.
the clock's too loud
it echos through the silent night
too many thoughts
all at once
i need them on paper
scribble
tick
scribble
tock
that fucking clock
it never fucking stops
i cant fucking sleep.
a dog barks
tick
a car screeches
tock
a horse neighs...what?
i can't be that tired
i can't be hallucinating
i
can't
sleep.
don't sleep.
won't sleep.
shan't sleep.
never sleep.
i need a digital clock
The Great Sleep
the great sleep has decended.
the night's chill is the only comfort.
the warm complacent bed to caress.
the delightful pillow waiting for my dreary head.
the luxury sheets to engulf the tired, defective body.
nothing truely matters when asleep.
but does anything truely matter?
should it?
'sleep, love, sleep.'
i'll lie here only a few minutes more.
nothing can get worse.
or can it?
'let's not think,
sleep, sleep.
sleep is all you are useful for.'
don't i know it.
'sleep, love, sleep.'
you are my comfort, my salvation.
will things ever get better?
'wait, darling, and things will be alright.
everything will be alright.
you just haven't earned it yet.'
baby, don't i know it.
sigh, don't i know it.
'sleep, sleep.'
poem by Wibble TheFisch

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Im Awake Now
Ive been where the river ran
Im drownin in a sunless sea
Sleep has helped me find my end
You promised me youd set me free
Dont fall asleep to dream
A banshees at my window pane
Theres an angel at my feet
Dont fall asleep to dream
Im awake now
(you cant touch me, I wont sleep no more)
Awake now
In the corner of my mind
Where he sits and waits for me
Theres a wall of confusion building
And the sky begins to bleed on me
Dont fall asleep to dream
Im looking for a way out now
Peace of mind is all I need
Dont fall asleep to dream
Im awake now
(you cant touch me, I wont sleep no more)
Awake now
(you cant touch me, I wont sleep no more)
Awake now
(you cant touch me, I wont sleep no more)
Awake now
Awake now
Awake now
Awake now
Awake now
song performed by by Goo Goo Dolls

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sleep
In the middle of the night
Head on my pillow
Looking like a little ghost
Seems like all of the things
That you gave your mother
Have all gone up in smoke
In the middle of the night
You don't know what I'm thinking
But still the stars still sparkle and shine
Seems like all of the time
Our boat was slowly sinking
You didn't even seem to mind
Now all I want to do is sleep
Now all I want to do is sleep
Now all I want to do is sleep
song performed by by Garbage

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Want To Sleep
My covers and I fight all night
I’m not sleeping well can’t you tell
My restless mind can’t unwind
Eyes are stubborn so I toss and turn
Life’s so cruel I’m miserable
Blue turns red ricochets in my head
Body so numb sleep wont come
Agitated all night till morning’s light
My problems blossoms
The rains came and nothing is the same
Autumn showers now devour
Things sweet seems incomplete
Tired eyes till sunrise
Throat so dry all night I cry
I cried for happiness went for a joyride
Trying to keep it inside, but the sadness I can’t hide
Matters not what I do I can’t breakthrough
So many issues so my tongue and throat argues
Made a great error and can’t keep it together
No better for worst I’m cursed
In a trance as shadows dance
Specters flow to a slow tempo
Nothing medicates so I’m up late
Maybe it was something on my plate I ate
It’s not my fate for my mind and eyes to negotiate
Suffering from the abuse for allies refuse to come to a truce
For updates my body waits
My heart pulsates and sleep procrastinates
Can’t sleep so in the darkness I weep
Exhausted for heaven sake laying here so awake
Counting not a single sheep for the hill is so steep
Affording not the upkeep for everyone else is asleep
poem by Wilfred Mellers

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Eclipsed From Sleep
I am a man advanced in years
And for the most part need my sleep.
I’m usually in bed by nine
Not that I want to be abed;
You’ll find out if you live this long
That the mind is always younger
Than the body it occupies.
What this means is I’m often
forced to do things against my will.
Last night is a good example:
I wanted to see the eclipse
Of the moon beginning early
In the AM morning hours.
I struggled long to stay awake:
I sat in a comfortable chair
Anticipating the eclipse
With tired eyes through my window
Only to involuntary
Fall asleep and missed the damn thing.
poem by Albert Ahearn

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Sleep? Date Written 05/02/2008
I should sleep, my neck it tells me so
But there within the cold quilt I'm alone.
I should sleep and leave this vile machine now
But it calls me to caress its keys once more.
I don't sleep the way I really ought to
My words they need insomnia to live.
I don't sleep and my life becomes a muddle
But there's nothing I can do to right this wrong.
I need sleep, my body's hungry for it
For I know that in the morning I'll be tired.
I need sleep for a dream of someone near me
But it won't fill the space that's empty by my side.
I won't sleep and my eyes will become blackened
And my body will yearn for tender touch.
I won't sleep for I'm running out of time here
And life is precious time never recouped.
poem by Clare McWilliams

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Clear My Mind
I'm pushing too much pressure on me
I'm so tired because I'm doing so much
I just want it to go away
Clear my mind
Of all things that are negative
Try not to do so much
Focus on important things
Other things can wait
I need to have fun
Enjoy life out there
I can work hard and have great time
Clear my mind
That has bad impact on me and makes me shatter
I need to run and listen to music
Clear my mind
I hate feeling stress out and exhaustion
I'm eating right and try to get exercise
I'm going dropp off things I don't really need to do
I want to feel happy and alive
I want to have energy and have good time
Like I used to in my life
I need a break from everything I do
Once in a while to let it all
This is too much to handle
My head is hurting so much
I just want to scream
I want to
Clear my mind
poem by Christina Phan

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Demons of the Night
The sleepless nights,
The constant fights,
Sleep eludes me,
But people don't see,
The thoughts constantly running through my head,
That refuse to relent as I'm lay in bed,
I close my eyes and try to sleep,
All the things I've buried deep,
Get free from their cage,
And run around in a rage,
People say I sleep a lot,
But don't see the demons that I've got,
All this never leaving me be,
All the pain that's made me, me,
Is rising its ugly head,
I put them back one by one,
Until at least for that night its done,
Everything's buried back down deep,
And i fall into a long and fitful sleep.
poem by Lizzie O'Neill

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My angel, I love to watch you sleep........
When the night comes then your voice calm down
When the moon begin to sail in the sky
then your eyes are closing down to sleep
You fall asleep while dim light illuminates your room
I love to watch you sleep my little girl
You sleep like a little angel within your dreams
Your hair falls both sides of your face and
your hands folded in to the blanket
Your pillows and bunnies are speard around you
You breath soft and low while your innocent heart
beat slowly to the merry tune
I love to watch you sleep my little baby
When I want to kiss you to say good night in your sleep
then you toss your head and stretch your little body
and turn around sleep again while holding your pillow
God brought you to me and given you as his gift
and today you are the greatest treasure in my life
Someone to laugh and dance and sing in my home
I love to watch you sleep my angel
Ravi Sathasivam / Sri Lanka
Copyright @2004 Ravi Sathasivam
poem by Ravi Sathasivam

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How Do You Sleep At Night
(jim mcbride/jerry salley)
I havent had a good nights sleep
In weeks now thanks to you
The ghost of broken promises you made
Haunts every room
A hurtin heart cant get no rest round here
I lie awake and wonder how
Your conscience could be clear
How do you sleep at night
Do you toss and turn till the morning light
Does the darkness help
When you lie down with the truth?
How do you sleep at night?
Are you all alone or do you hold someone tight
Do you see me
When you close your eyes?
How do you sleep at night?
Now your side of the beds as cold
As the lies that I believed
Im at the point when I cant even
Trust you in my dreams
Did the way you left me leave you feelin proud?
Or does the loneliness come callin
When the sun goes down?
How do you sleep at night
Do you toss and turn till the morning light
Does the darkness help
When you lie down with the truth
How do you sleep at night
Are you all alone or do you hold someone tight
Do you see me
When you close your eyes
How do you sleep at night
song performed by by Wade Hayes

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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How Do You Sleep At Night
(jim mcbride/jerry salley)
I havent had a good nights sleep
In weeks now thanks to you
The ghost of broken promises you made
Haunts every room
A hurtin heart cant get no rest round here
I lie awake and wonder how
Your conscience could be clear
How do you sleep at night
Do you toss and turn till the morning light
Does the darkness help
When you lie down with the truth?
How do you sleep at night?
Are you all alone or do you hold someone tight
Do you see me
When you close your eyes?
How do you sleep at night?
Now your side of the beds as cold
As the lies that I believed
Im at the point when I cant even
Trust you in my dreams
Did the way you left me leave you feelin proud?
Or does the loneliness come callin
When the sun goes down?
How do you sleep at night
Do you toss and turn till the morning light
Does the darkness help
When you lie down with the truth
How do you sleep at night
Are you all alone or do you hold someone tight
Do you see me
When you close your eyes
How do you sleep at night
song performed by by Wade Hayes

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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