My sleep pattern has never been great and has deteriorated since 2006. Most nights I have a period of wakefulness but have learned to be calm about it. Lying waiting for sleep to come back, reading, getting up for a drink or a pee are all part of the tactics to avoid upheaval. I have noticed that if I can sleep between six am and ten am I seem to get sufficient REM sleep to keep me going. Not at all a scientific conclusion but it works for me. Then of course, sometimes that all goes out the window. One such time elicited the piece below, as I frantically attempted to recapture some equilibrium. I was reading Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin at the time.
So read, enjoy, pass it on, send me comments through the link below.
Turmoil of the Night
After Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin
Sheep stared at me when I woke
those same I counted at start of night
I tossed endlessly unhinging
sheet from mattress
bunching under back bum thighs
adding to discomfort - sleep failure
On replay no observable cause explains
whirling brain itched skin jumping legs
blinking eyelids increased body heat
working together with canny success
to maintain frantic wakefulness -
Counted sheep were impassive unimpressed
Peter Clarke
29th Dec 2022
Echoes of the Old on the New Battlefields
Warrior chiefs of the GAA were early on the field to prepare:
Posts and cones positioned to mark territories
Very young novices came later by parents’ chariots
clad and shod for the ensuing battles
Firstly, paced for speed, resilience and flexibility,
then marked off into opposing teams
Each warrior chief led a young squad of hopefuls
in further exercises to bring them to fit levels
There followed a huddle, an exhortation rant,
responded with clamour of intent and enthusiasm
Skirmishes began, speed across the field, hunt for the ball,
to be delivered as the goal, or to be prevented at all costs
Warrior chiefs egged on, instructed, altered the field of play
the young ’uns complied with fighting spirit
For every fall and hurt spells were cast on the side line
till fitness returned and they were entered back into play
Scores mounted, roars enhanced, casualties grew,
novices flagged and regrouped across the fields
Between bouts came the talks of encouragement
Stay back, pass, pass, pass, keep the pace.
Old hands passing skill onto new palms with dedication,
a gift of generous wisdom gladly given
Peter Clarke
20th April 2024