Girl sleeping by Domenico Fetti (1615)
source
source
Weariness
guides feet into the forest.
Weariness
guides steps into the city.
Weariness
sits with me on the bus and in my living room
where I
open my laptop to check email and Facebook,
and feel
my nose and chin fall to the keyboard, eyes closed.
I’m wiped
out from the moments I get dressed in the morning
to the hour
I climb into bed—nap or bedtime—and I sleep.
Sleep
deep.
I’ve
tried cures: vitamins, breathing more air in fewer breaths,
aerobic exercises,
and physical therapy. I haven’t tried
pills,
but I’ve
tried “summer reading” instead of listening to news.
I’ve
pretended all is well in my nation: that experts and scientists
run the
departments of government with enough employees
to do
the job, that we value our treaties and promises to those
we’ve
allowed into our country. That we value democracy.
That we
value women, that we value the rich diversity of us.
And it
helps. It helps to get angry
imagining
how life could be, anger
overrides
the weariness enough
to make
one more effort
before
weariness sets in again.
Then I
look for anger again, or for one friend who gets it,
who maybe
brings over another mailing list, or another picket sign,
because
we can’t give up. We are the resistance.
We are
the non-violent, alert and enthusiastic, revolution.
For my prompt "Weariness" at What's Going On?
I GET it! Either weariness or anger. A vicious circle. Neither really good for a person. Each wears a person down. Sometimes I think...whatever helps a person get through the day though.... (I was reading an article that said S.A.D is really bad in fall. The article suggested using a light box 30 minutes a day each morning to keep weariness/depression at bay.
ReplyDeleteI feel your weariness and I admire your never give up determination. I had to smile at your nose and chin hitting the keyboard. In bed, reading my tablet, it often falls on my face when I doze off. Ouch!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm weary of the voices
ReplyDeleteI sleep, but I also wake awed
by the dawn, by the life of trees.
Some small part of this spiritual
renewal lives under the anger--but
too small a part to keep me awake.
I love the idea of summer reading - we all need comfort and light when weariness descends - a beautiful poem - Jae
ReplyDeleteAww. Such a flow of beautiful words, Susan.
ReplyDeleteThe repetition works so well to convey weariness, Susan, and I know how it feels to fall asleep on your keyboard. I wish I could sleep deeply; I can fall asleep but not stay asleep, and I’ve tried a few of the cures you mentioned in your poem. I’ll have a go at being angry, which shouldn’t be hard considering the way things are in the world.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your weariness, sleep having always been my favourite escape route. You are right . You cannot give up the fight. In whatever way you can manage, no matter how small, you must never give in . You owe it to your forefathers who fought so hard for the freedoms you used to have. Chin up during this very difficult time for you all !
ReplyDeleteOh I don't blame you We all feel for you as it must be very difficult to live in the heart of it. Your poem still carries quiet strength and I send some energy your way to keep up the fight We think about you
ReplyDeleteWeariness can lead to a great internal fire lighting up and causing an explosion of indignation to set on fire all those who are responsible for the great ills we are being foreced to live through nowadays. You are not alone - neither in your fatigue nor in your indignation and in your fighting spirit overcoming weariness, Mary...
ReplyDeleteOne more picket sign! I think it is the stuff of heroes, putting aside the wearniness and physical discomfort to speak up... take care, Susan...sending much love...
ReplyDelete". . . I’ve pretended all is well in my nation: that . . . " And even now that women in the services must be able to do everything a man can do or take being discharged. Crazy department of 'wars' new rule.
ReplyDeleteYour weariness is felt by many. Some nights it is hard to get a good nights sleeps wondering what will happen in the night. I find a warm cup of tea helps me relax and no electronic devices for at least 30 minutes before I go to bed. Sometimes, I tuck an intention under my pillow for a good night's rest.
ReplyDeleteYes, we are the revolution!
ReplyDeleteWeariness - just saying the word out loud makes me tired. I think creating weariness is intended by those who introduce more and more chaos every day. I'm simply tooooo tiiiired to think about it today. Thank you, Susan, for this impactful poem.
ReplyDelete