When night has spread his shades of dark, <br />And silent is the singing lark, <br />And no more's heard the canine bark, <br /> The insomniac awakes. <br /> <br />When man nor woman nothing sees, <br />And scarce is heard the more than breeze <br />That gasps amongst the leaves of trees, <br /> The insomniac awakes. <br /> <br />When silent is the noiseful town, <br />When Luna's smile Apollo's frown <br />Replaces, in his dressing-gown <br /> The insomniac awakes. <br /> <br />Trying in vain his eyes to close, <br />Morpheus approaches - Morpheus goes; <br />Forbidden to forget his woes, <br /> The insomniac awakes. <br /> <br />Not knowing what's this thing call'd sleep, <br />Incessant vigil doom'd to keep, <br />In sleepless throes condemn'd to weep, <br /> The insomniac awakes. <br /> <br /> <br />He tries, alas! to shut his eyes, <br />His inner voice madly replies <br />'I am condemned to tears and sighs': <br /> The insomniac awakes. <br /> <br />The moon her nightly path has run: <br />Appears the firstmost hint of sun; <br />The sleeper's hours of rest are done: <br /> The insomniac awakes. <br /> <br />He works, but cannot concentrate: <br />He eats, but flavourless his plate: <br />He dreams in daytime - 'tis his fate: <br /> The insomniac awakes. <br /> <br />Alert as man could ever be, <br />The world a haze alone sees he, <br />And, plodding homeward o'er the lea, <br /> The insomniac awakes. <br /> <br />A few brief hours, or minutes even, <br />The insomniac receives this even, <br />When Morpheus descends from heaven. <br /> The insomniac awakes. <br /> <br />But heaven's moment soon is o'er, <br />And he is as he was before: <br />'Tis midnight, and, sleeping no more, <br /> The insomniac awakes. <br /> <br />(Monday,8th May,2006.)<br /><br />David Mitchell<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-insomniac/
