A sort of experimental bit of writing

This is kind of a piece of experimental prose-poetry. Its a reasonably accurate account of the often irritating process that is trying to get to sleep.

Temporary Insomnia

Find a good position. Head on edge of pillow, one hand across chest, the other raised beside head.

Big sigh.

Get ready to sleep. Next thing I know I’ll be awake the next morning. Funny thing, sleep. Very funny thing. Amazing to think I can actually switch off, completely off. Time can sort of cease to exist for a while. Funny thing.

Shouldn’t spend too long thinking about it. That’s always a huge error. Spend too long thinking about it and you’ll just stay awake. Just don’t think of anything. Try and stop all thoughts and just let your mind wander and wander and wander its easy it won’t be a problem its easy its easy so easy its easy so easy its eas....

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

A tapping noise.

Not from me, not from my mind, from somewhere else.

The room. Its from the room.

Don’t open eyes. Don’t open eyes.

Eyes have been open for some time. Can make out the wall and the cupboard.

Tap, tap, tap.

Don’t get up.

Get up, find out what it is.

Reach for light switch and get out of bed.

Tap, tap/tick, tick.

From clock. Take the batteries out, throw on floor, find proper place for them later.

Back into bed, light off.

Eyes closed. New position, face the other way. Same position, just the other way around.

Seagulls. That single word in my head. Why? No great attachment to seagulls. Soaring soaring. Fragile + beautifully strong + wind on my face + salt in the air then diving diving diving diving diving down towards the waves down and down and down and down and nothing and nothing and nothing and noth…

And eyes flick open. No reason. Eyes flick open, their own masters.

Still awake. Still wide awake. Been asleep? No. Yes. No. Big sigh.

Reach for watch. Long time later. Long time later. Been asleep.

Or time gone fast.

Big sigh.

Face the ceiling. Face up. Like dead. Don’t move.

Don’t move. You’ll only wake up. DO NOT MOVE.

Itchy nose.

DO NOT MOVE.

Itchy nose.

DO NOT MOVE

ITCHY NOSE, DO NOT MOVE, ITCHY NOSEDONOTMOVEITCHYNOSEDO NOT MOVE ITCHY NOSE DONO ITCHY NOSE ITCHY NOSE ITCHY NOSE

Ok!

Ok!

Move!

I move.

Back to first position, facing across room. Head on edge of pillow, one hand across chest, the other raised beside head.

Give up

Just lie there.

Just lie there, eyes closed, wait for morning.

Eyes closed.

Eyes closed.

Clo…

Eyes snap open.

Daylight.

David Shervington, 2006