In the Arms of Sleep
Moment of Silence Challenge Entry

sleep takes me captive, no matter how much I fight it, no matter what I do to escape its grasp...it takes me away down to the darkest recesses of the world of shadows
I wonder how long it will last this time, my captivity, my internal, cerebral prison...it is hard to hold onto the frayed ends of sanity
left alone with the stillness, the sombre stillness, both serene and sadistic in its design
elders, the torchbearers, gatekeepers of my mind's crypt, surround me, as my only companions in the abyss
never uttering a single solitary word, but keeping a watchful eye, between the moments of loud and varied glory, adventure, passion and heartache that my mind's theatre latest screening offers
chasmic and cavernous, a fortress of solitude, misery, hope and grief of my own creation
each night when I am no longer able to fight off the intoxication, as slumber beckons and welcomes me with open arms.
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About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
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Comments (8)
It's a clever reversal on the usual trope of sleep as comfort and refreshment Paul, and you make silence here unwelcome. "between the moments of loud and varied glory, adventure, passion and heartache that my mind's theatre latest screening offers"- it's a frenetic sentences that mirrors the thoughts going on internally.
This one is brilliant! Would read very well aloud too. Ya know when u can just hear it!! I very much liked the part about the mind’s theatre too! 😴 💤
Wow! I especially liked: “ the moments of loud and varied glory, adventure, passion and heartache that my mind's theatre latest screening offers”… vivid depiction of the random stuff dreams project.
Very vivid and such a strong narrative feel to it! Well done, Paul!
This was clever and so captivating for me Paul! I liked that you did a prose per letter and really dove into that world you built here! Well done!
This is such a cool take on the challenge!! You've created rich, ethereal, and haunted world within a character's brief passage into sleep...brilliant, Paul :)
Oh man, this is good. So many great lines. This here "left alone with the stillness, the sombre stillness, both serene and sadistic in its design," can definitely relate.
Perchance, a chance to dream and maybe receive an answer or two. Good work.