He Cannot Sleep
He cannot sleep
with eyes wide open
he does not see enough light
through this blinding darkness
he feels the recession thundering
like an enormous quake
on a Richter scale
with unfathomable
logarithmic upheaval
as joblessness
cries out for mercy
rising like a tsunami
in tumultuous waves
wallowing in our hopes
for a better tomorrow
often times
job openings make mockery
of our social fabric
lashing away with emptiness
or nibbling away
at our broken dreams
like piranhas
only leaving our bones
for the breakfast table
with our eyes wide open
he cannot sleep
we cannot sleep
sleep.
poem by Leonard Dabydeen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Dedicated to ppl who dont sleep
Sleep, sleep, sleep
It’s magnificent and nice,
With dreams beyond wonder,
Sleep! sleep! sleep!
Sleep, sleep, sleep
Eyes tightly closed,
A little smile on you r cheeks,
Feeling the ambiance
Of the pure and precious sleep,
Sleep! sleep! sleep!
Sleep, sleep, sleep
Forgetting insane things of the mixed world outside
Relax my dear, feel the gentle breeze,
Do not worry about tomorrow, do not weep,
Wake up fresh in the morning with a recuperate mind,
Fresh and blessed with a wonderful sleep,
SLEEP, SLEEP, SLEEP!
poem by Tejaswini Iyer
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Outside331’sSleep
Don’t open your eyes yet not until I explain last night I went to bed with Sleep last night I fell for Sleep last night Sleep unclothed me left me naked in a room painted black I couldn’t see Sleep because Sleep was dark too and the room was black and the foreground blended in with the background I couldn’t tell what was far and what was close I became frustrated because Sleep was either hiding inside the room or the room was hiding behind Sleep neither were being fair to my eyes who wanted to play hide and go Sleep I hide inside the room and Sleep seeks I said where are you Sleep I can’t see you my eyes can’t find you Sleep I said I wanted to fall inside you brought me into this black room and I am trying to wrap myself around you won’t you come inside of me you won’t stage scenes in my eyes created with color everything is black one long stretch Sleep are you moving and I can’t see you or are you standing still and I can’t feel you are here Sleep you are silent Sleep I feel alone Sleep I want you to be inside me if you take me to a black room and make me go to bed are your eyes open I can’t see you did you leave is Sleep here Sleep am I inside you explain Sleep explain did you open your eyes Sleep are my eyes open Sleep are you outside me Sleep you took me to bed and left me Sleep I can’t open my eyes until you are back inside me I can’t see Sleep when you’re not inside me open your eyes Sleep do you see me inside you explain last night am I still inside Sleep?
(12-13-07)
poem by Chelsea Trescott
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!
SLEEP
Sleep, sleep, sleep
It’s magnificent and nice,
With dreams beyond wonder,
Sleep! sleep! sleep!
Sleep, sleep, sleep
Eyes tightly closed,
A little smile on you r cheeks,
Feeling the warm sensations
Of the pure and precious sleep,
Sleep! sleep! sleep!
Sleep, sleep, sleep
Forgetting insane things of the mixed world outside
Relax my little one, feel the gentle breeze,
Do not worry about tomorrow, do not weep,
Wake up fresh in the morn with a recuperated mind,
Fresh and blessed with a wonderful sleep,
SLEEP, SLEEP, SLEEP!
JERINE JAMES (3RD JULY 07)
poem by Jerine James
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Maria's Lullaby
An extract from a poem written for my grandchildren to Brahms Lullaby
Sleep; little mice sleep
Mother will watch over you
Shut your eyes and don't peek
Tomorrow the skies will be blue
Sleep; little mice sleep.
Sleep; little mice sleep
No harm will come whilst I am here
The sun has gone down by the peak
When the day dawns it will appear
Sleep; little mice sleep.
Sleep; little mice sleep
Your father is watching the house
That no owl or cat dares to seek
Harm to creatures or mouse
Sleep; little mice sleep.
Sleep; little mice sleep
Tomorrow you run and play
Now is not time to speak
When you awake a new day
Sleep; little mice sleep.
Sleep; little mice sleep
Rest now for your own sake
Shut your eyes now be asleep
I will be here when you awake
Sleep; little mice sleep.
poem by Thomas Golding
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sleep, Sleep, My Little One
Sleep, sleep, my little one
‘Tis better in this world of us
To sleep the sleep of the innocents
Than sleep the sleep of the just:
At least you’ll have a greater chance
To avoid long knives and plots
And bloody rendezvous.
For in this world, this world of us
The just is alien and his sleep
Most dangerous negligence:
Long knives will wait at corners round
And plots and darts abound
For all the just around.
For in this world, this world of us,
The sleep of innocents is better than
The sleep of all the just, my little one.
Sleep, sleep, my little one
And let outside the dark wind neigh
And rain and chill make fear
And the sea’s waves make storm and rage
And evil win
And the good disappear
And do not open your eyes sweet one
Before night and storm have passed away.
poem by Emmanuel George Cefai
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Night, Nights Sleepless
Night, nights sleepless eyes wide
sleep comes as disguise
Thou you asked love to
lend some happiness
fate has gifted you
sadness for life
Night, nights sleepless eyes wide
sleep comes as disguise
all boats are gone
and flooded away
your loved ones pierced
you with dagger of lies
Night, nights sleepless eyes wide
sleep comes as disguise
now why are you smiling
whilst bleeding tears
your sun is set
before even rise
Night, nights sleepless eyes wide
sleep comes as disguise
there was just a hope
on a peck of straw
alas! it is also burnt
now ashes doth lies
Night, nights sleepless eyes wide
sleep comes as disguise
poem by Asif Baloch
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Maker
(daniel lanois)
Oh, oh deep water, black and cold like the night
I stand with arms wide open
Ive run a twisted line
Im a stranger in the eyes of the maker
I could not see for the fog in my eyes
I could not feel for the fear in my life
From across the great divide, in the distance I saw a light
Of jean baptistes hes walking to me with the maker
My body my body is bent and broken by long and dangerous sleep
I cant work the fields of abraham and turn my head away
Im not a stranger in the hands of the maker
Brother john, have you seen the homeless daughters
Standing there with broken wings
I have seen the flaming swords
There over east of eden
Burning in the eyes of the maker
Burning in the eyes of the maker
Burning in the eyes of the maker
Oh, river rise from your sleep
Oh, river rise from your sleep
Oh, river rise from your sleep
song performed by by Emmylou Harris
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Can't Sleep
I cannot sleep, cannot sleep!
My heart does not ache
But like a funeral drum
It is beating slowly to my grave...
I cannot sleep, cannot sleep!
Where is the moon that shone
And the star that was my guide?
My eyes are not wet,
I have no dreams tonight...
I cannot sleep, cannot sleep!
Yet, the wind whispers
'Come and fly with me,
Over the highest heavens
And sleep tight, sleep tight! '
poem by Jane Quijano
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Glow
Glow,
Take out this foreign heart,
Wash oof the sand that seeps out through my eyes,
Ive still sleep in my eyes.
Cold,
Colds how we felt so long,
Accuse me of crying and speaking of lies.
Ive still sleep in my eyes,
Ive still sleep in my eyes,
Glow like a lover.
Out,
Out is the winter pale,
Gold rising june in the blue of my eye,
Ive still sleep in my eyes.
Glow, this is my family,
Send for the soul you can soon realise.
Ive still sleep in my eyes,
Ive still sleep in my eyes,
Glow like a lover.
song performed by by Spandau Ballet
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Desire Blooming On Air-Creeper Of Sleeplessness
Let me sleep
Centuries old deep
And long sleep
Devoid of any dream.
Let me sleep
That girl's sleep
Who has forgotten her eyes
Into mine.
Let me sleep
The sleep of those
In whose eyes
Float clouds and birds
Rivers flow
Yet they remain parched.
Let me sleep
O, deserts surrounding my four sides!
There is an ocean in my heart
Let me sink all my dreams in it
Let me soak my thirsty lips
Let me weep!
Let me sleep!
(Translated by Samina Amjad)
poem by Naseer Ahmed Nasir
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Work, Sleep, Work, Sleep, Work
Work, sleep, work, sleep,
Work, sleep, work, sleep,
Work, sleep, work, sleep,
Work:
Work, sleep, work, sleep,
Work, sleep, work, sleep,
Work, sleep, work, sleep,
Work.
Oh free me please with gentle ease
From work, sleep, work, sleep, work!
This odium, pounding tedium
Of my work, sleep, work, sleep, work.
Just whisk me off to lands afar
From work, sleep, work, sleep, work -
That grinding train of rhythmic pain
Called ‘Work, sleep, work, sleep, work.’
Poor neural circuits fizzle and pop
In work, sleep, work, sleep, work,
In trying to make some sense of all this
Work, sleep, work, sleep, work.
But Hark! I see a golden gleam -
A saving spirit of hope:
‘You’re fired! ’ He screams. What news to bear,
This wondrous hangman’s rope!
So now I’m free, released from all this
Work, sleep, work, sleep, work -
Eternal peace and rest for me, no
Work, sleep, work, sleep, work.
poem by Mark R Slaughter
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Maker
Oh, Oh Deep water
Black, and cold like the night
I stand with arms wide open
I've run a twisted mile
I'm a stranger
in the eyes of the maker
I could not see
for fog in my eyes
I could not feel
for the fear in my life
From across the great divide
In the distance i saw a light
Jean baptiste
walking to me with the maker
My body is bent and broken
by long and dangerous sleep
I can work the fields of abraham
and turn my head away
I'm not a stranger
in the hands of the maker
Brother john
Have you seen the homeless daughters
standing there
with broken dreams
I have seen the flaming swords
there over east of eden
burning in the eyes of the maker
burning in the eyes of the maker
burning in the eyes of the maker
burning in the eyes of the maker
oh river rise from your sleep
song performed by by Dave Matthews Band
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Dreaming While You Sleep
In and out of darkness, in and out of sleep
Trying to keep my hands upon the wheel.
Never saw the corner in the driving rain.
I never saw her step into the street.
Dreaming while you sleep
Dreaming while you sleep
Memories to keep
Dreaming while you sleep
I can never understand what went thru my mind
I didnt stop to see what I had done.
Had to keep on driving deep into the night
The miles between would somehow put it right
Dreaming while you sleep
Dreaming while you sleep
Memories to keep
Dreaming while you sleep
All my life you lie silently there
All my life in a world so unfair
All my life and only Ill know why
And it will live inside of me,
I will never be free all my life,
Trapped in her memory all my life
Till the day that you open your eyes,
Please open your eyes
Dreaming while you sleep
Dreaming while you sleep
Heard it on the radio, saw it on tv,
But could I take my secret to the grave.
If I had another chance, would I do the same.
Would I still deny that it was me.
Dreaming while you sleep
Dreaming while you sleep
Dreaming while you sleep,
Are you dreaming while you sleep?
All my life Ill be haunted by
All my life just one moment in time
All my life until the day I die
And it will live inside of me
Oh I will never be free all my life
Trapped in her memory all my life
Till the day that you open your eyes
All of my life - you lie silently there
All my life - in a world so unfair
All my life - and only I know why
And it will live inside of me
I will never be free all my life
Trapped in her memory - all my life
Till the day that you open your eyes.
All of my life.
Just one moment of time, all my life.
song performed by by Genesis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sleep Comes Down
it's raining in my head
but no tears come down
and i'm dreaming of you
until sleep comes around
sleep comes down sleep comes down
sleep comes down sleep comes down
the orchestra's playing
it's so very loud
and i'm biting my nails
until sleep comes around
sleep comes down sleep comes down
sleep comes down sleep comes down
the clouds are all running
but no tears come down
and i'm thinking of you
until sleep comes around
sleep comes down sleep comes down
sleep comes down sleep comes down
song performed by by Flaming Lips
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Glow (12")
Glow,
take out this foreign heart,
wash oof the sand that seeps out through my eyes,
I've still sleep in my eyes.
Cold,
cold's how we felt so long,
accuse me of crying and speaking of lies.
I've still sleep in my eyes,
I've still sleep in my eyes,
glow like a lover.
Out,
out is the winter pale,
gold rising June in the blue of my eye,
I've still sleep in my eyes.
Glow, this is my family,
send for the soul you can soon realise.
I've still sleep in my eyes,
I've still sleep in my eyes,
glow like a lover.
song performed by by Spandau Ballet
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sleeper
Sleep that half dead,
sleep the body not the head.
Sleep that bad said,
Poor owns that bed,
Dreams are found on that herd.
Sleep while awake,
Sleep that dead not closed eye fake.
Sleep that weak,
Tommorow u gona take.
Eat that sleep and enjoy its steak.
Sleep still stands,
None to overtake.
Sleep that height dare for cake.
Sleep that stress and have the bless,
Sleep to confess as she do to embrance,
Sleep for paid cash as he do to love false.
Sleep that sleep as no one sleep ever deep.
Sleep that better as no other sleeper.
Wear that sweater as did Brother Peter,
Sleep that firm to dream that greater,
Sleep not slopy arrise all the weaker.
poem by Abdallah Mpogole
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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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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In Your Sleep, I die
In your tender sleep, thy child cries
Bullied and tortured by ruthless foes
Amidst pain, I threw arms in the sky
Asleep thou are to comfort my woes.
In your slumber, they child weeps
My eyes grow wide, my arms go lame
Blood drips from me while thou sleep
Beyond that, lo! my heart aflame.
In your sleep, thy child dies
Preserving peace in my heart
Thy child dies so that your eyes
May open with a start.
poem by Geraldine Fernandez
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I lost My Sleep
I lost my sleep to the clouds bulging with rain,
or to the bright sun again,
enacting in a complicated act,
browsing over blissful facts,
I'm hiding this crooked alarm,
as little sleep will do no harm,
I badly need some sleep,
but my eyes are wide awake in memories deep,
should I laugh or should I weep,
or just wait till my eyes are asleep,
so many emotions fused,
extra-caffeine consumed
Dreams without sleep,
oh! what a hectic week! ! !
poem by Chettur Aishwarya Shrivastav
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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