Posted in Jamie Dedes, Poems/Poetry

POPPING POEMS AT MIDNIGHT

Posted on by The Bardo Group Beguines

Poetry is not a profession, it is a destiny. Mikhail Dudan

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POPPING POEMS AT MIDNIGHT

by

Jamie Dedes

There must be something about

the witching hour, magic after all,

when – from sound sleep – I so

suddenly awake to the silent

scratching and rough shaking

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of a poem dropping in, uninvited

and just about fully formed, from

some unnamed peculiar heaven or

hell to disturb the languid luxury of

this rare blue somnolence. A poem

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from neither the horn nor ivory

gate that snatches me from the

welcome arms of Morpheus, from

the land of Demos Oneiroi*, where

I long – an elegant ache – to return.

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I chew on it like a baby chews

new food, trying to define shape

and character, to hold the memory

intact until morning when I can –

perhaps – name it. I … repeat it …

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repeating, repeating, my mind

wrapping itself around the poem

like my arms the pillow, hugging

the  sensation of it, enjoying the

silk and nub and color of it, not

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willing to let it go, unable to sleep.

At a chill pre-dawn hour, give

up and get up and taking the laptop

in hand, lay out the poem on a fresh

white page, ready post of the day.

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* Demos Oneiroi – the land of dreams

Artwork – Morpheus and Iris by Pierre-Narcisse Guérin, 1811

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INTO THE BARDO

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The focus of "The BeZine," a publication of The Bardo Group Beguines, is on sacred space (common ground) as it is expressed through the arts. Our work covers a range of topics: spirituality, life, death, personal experience, culture, current events, history, art, and photography and film. We share work here that is representative of universal human values however differently they might be expressed in our varied religions and cultures. We feel that our art and our Internet-facilitated social connection offer a means to see one another in our simple humanity, as brothers and sisters, and not as “other.” This is a space where we hope you’ll delight in learning how much you have in common with “other” peoples. We hope that your visits here will help you to love (respect) not fear. For more see our Info/Mission Statement Page.

13 thoughts on “POPPING POEMS AT MIDNIGHT”

  2. My time seems to be 3:00 a.m. Suddenly wide awake, as though someone touched me, my thoughts turn to the spiritual. I feel deeply immersed in my spiritual life. A few years ago, a First Nations Medicine Woman told me that her culture believes this is the time when the spirit world wants to connect. I have not sensed that for me, but I sent her a vision I received that I strongly felt was for her. She seemed greatly pleased even though it came from a non-native. She and I have laugh about our white/redness. It is such a moot point with each of us.

    It would be grand to have it all come out as a poem. But then…that is a destiny. 🙂

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    1. This is interesting. Thanks for sharing the story here. I also have been told that 3 a.m. is a special time and often wake up then too, even when I’ve been awake at midnight!

      Your destiny is your wonderful stories. Story telling an old and respectable art. A true blessing for which we are grateful, Amy.

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  3. It is because of Louise’s lovely poem that I ended up here. How delectable your words flowed on my tongue. A beautiful poem indeed. I hope more poems like these get popped at midnight. They have such a special quality.

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Kindly phrased comments welcome here.

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