Journey to Ixtlan

“The Seduction” was inspired by Elizabeth Smart’s quote, “Sleep tries to seduce me by promising a more reasonable tomorrow”, from her book “By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept; And, The Assumption of the Rogues & Rascals”.


The Seduction

The seduction began at the dusk
then progressed as darkness fell
into the blackness, the journey led
with promise made I could not trust

the clouds have clashed against the sun
gray to black, they vow to stay
I seek a shelter against the storm
the rage that circles every day

temptation pledged an escape
dulcet murmurs in my ear
as the strength left my limbs
the voice spoke with honeyed bliss

“I will vanquish this always cycle
the never ending circle spent
in existing, that grind of life
to lay you down in calming arms”

“this retreat will be a void
entreating shade to fill your life
in a realm you’ll find yourself
beyond the pain in the bones”

narcotic call from the shoals
a calming voice in tempest eye
can I trust the siren’s call
when betrayal may occur?

the tempest may welcome me
at the exit of those dreams
forever raging, always there
escape forbidden by the gods

enticement made in bad faith
seduction wooing the battered soul
if only the peace would last
after darkness has had its time.

© 2018. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20180107.

Some people have trouble sleeping. My lovely wife is one of them. Other people sleep with few issues, but don't get enough. This is my life. The poem “Need for Sleep” explores this dynamic.


Need for Sleep

I am blessed with the need to sleep,
cursed that I have no relief
in the time spent otherwise
than resting body and spirit salve.

So many things I could do,
glorious achievements abound,
competing one against another
for my all too limited time.

Hours spent achieving bliss,
dance and music at hand,
pleasure and sanity to be had
possible every day of the week.

So many friends to associate,
of flavors I love to sample.
Just like the Placebo song,
too many of you, too many people.

The hours mount and I relent
to demands of life's desires.
Serving and being served,
time is all that's asked aside.

Sleep will come in its due,
too little taken in great gulps.
I'll crash for just one day
before taking up life's hectic beat.

© 2016, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved, 20160221.

Could I have sleep deprivation going on? I slid out of work early and went home. I lay down, with my head touching the pillow at about 3:00 PM. I think I woke up once while it was still daylight, and then I woke up at 12:07 AM. Oh well. I think I'll go back to bed now.