Dear Rest:
How sweet it is has been to make your acquaintance. For years, Sleep and I were great friends, but then I let Stress take her place. And without Sleep, I was doomed to health issues. But oh Rest you know this all too well, don’t you?
So I had to tell Stress to back off as he was smothering me. But Sleep has not yet forgiven me, I fear. And our relationship cannot be the same, it seems. But I found you dear Rest. And I realized even though Nap and I don’t usually get along, I have you to help me heal.
Rest, you come to me wearing many costumes, engaged in many scenarios. Sometimes in PJs, we do nothing but watch an old movie….such sweet bliss. And in our most comfortable yoga pants, you envelop me dear Rest, as we sit together in nature drinking in all that surrounds us. Or under our garden hats, digging in the soft earth, picking a flower or pulling a weed….yes you are beside me, dear one. There are times, too, that I just need to have you close by, as I breathe slowly and deeply in the moment.
Oh, there are so many sides to your personality, dearest Rest. And I am enjoying getting to know each one intimately!
© Donna Donabella 2016
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Each April I participate in a month long challenge from Susannah Conway called, April Love; extending love and kindness to ourselves. And each day in April we were challenged to write love letters given a specific topic.
I enjoyed writing these letters. But had no idea that I would use some as poems, until I read, Rosemary’s Blog, where she talked about the Poetry of Letters:
Did you know that there is a category of poems called “epistolary poems,” that the Academy of American Poets describes this way: “Epistolary poems, from the Latin “epistula” for “letter,” are, quite literally, poems that read as letters. As poems of direct address, they can be intimate and colloquial or formal and measured. The subject matter can range from philosophical investigation to a declaration of love to a list of errands, and epistles can take any form, from heroic couplets to free verse.”
And once I read this, I knew I would transform some of my Love Letters into these epistolary poems. I hope you enjoy these poems that I will post at least once a month. The pictures here are of places I love to Rest.
I am joining in with Poets United for their weekly poetry link up for poets who blog, with Gillena@verses for her Monday WRites meme and Sanaa@A Dash of Sunny for her Prompt Nights every Friday. This week’s theme is REST!
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I leave you with a few additional words about Dear Rest. I welcome you to download the photo and share it.
All other photos and original content is copyrighted and the sole property of Donna Donabella @ Living From Happiness, 2014-2016. Any reprints or use of other photos or content is by permission only.
Yes.
Sleep and I have become strangers.
Rest is taking her place.
Sad, but true.
At least we have REST! Glad you know her too….
Sleep is fickle often leaving me in the middle of the night and despite my pleading just pokes her tongue out at me!
She sticks her tongue out at me too Robin…really quite perplexing!
Gosh, this is absolutely incredible writing Donna, the images of one losing sleep over stress are raw and poignant. It is said that stress is the trash of modern life and that if we don’t dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake our life. Beautifully penned. Thank you so much for participating at Prompt Nights and for your constant love and support ❤❤
Lots of love,
Sanaa
I like the idea of stress being trash…yes we must throw it out to let sleep back in! Glad you enjoyed the poem Sanaa!
Personification works perfectly in this wonderful poem – because we have to learn to befriend rest, to trust her and embrace her for she wants us to be well..hard though that can be to accept
Absolutely Jae! We must befriend Rest…glad you really enjoyed the use of personification here.
(Smile.) I should learn to befriend Rest this way.
She is such a special friend Rosemary!
Rest can be an invaluable friend… its up to us to find it in simple everyday things. A lovely piece!
Absolutely necessary to find those everyday things!
Ah! I can very well relate with your words.
This blissful rest helps us to go on despite of all the stress.
A very true and vivid picture of life. Well-penned. 🙂
Thanks so much HA!
Enjoyed your reflections on rest…something we all need, but each finds in their own way! I like the way you
are exploring epistolary poems. I do hope you expand your series.
I plan to write these monthly Mary…they are a challenge but such fun to explore…glad you enjoyed this first one.
we can do without sleep (truly) but not without rest…love the personification…
Thanks Sumana….absolutely Rest is so necessary.
I love this poem. Rest and I enjoy old movies, too. Best rest in the world for tired over-loaded brains.
They are such bliss! And I am so pleased you enjoyed this poem Sherry!
I really enjoyed this.. the balance between sleeping and rest… maybe that’s why sleep seems to elude me… dear rest so sweet, so dangerous.
So glad you enjoyed this Bjorn…yes rest can be our respite when sleep eludes us.
I love the idea of Rest having many personalities. I think it’s true, and we need to get to him well. I will talk to the Nap I know, nudge her towards giving you a visit. Sleep and I don’t spend too much time together at night, but Nap and I can snore our way through a few hours… This poem has such a charming tone, sweet and playful… rest-full. 🙂
Nap has rarely visited…and only if I am sick but I thank you for trying to nudge her.
I enjoyed this poem so much Donna. Made me think. I sleep well (don’t be jealous). But when awake, I find it hard to rest. I make myself be still, but have to battle with my mind about the thousand things I should be doing. Ii must make friends with rest. Give it space in my life, the way you’ve learned to do.
I used to sleep well…and do so much better now that I am retired. But on those days when i need it, I rest. I put aside those thousand things and tune into my body instead of my mind. 5 minutes listening to restful music or wandering the garden is a start.
Excellent!!!
I am pleased that you think so…thank you!
This is just sublime and, a very wise perspective, I think. I really related to this piece. And, in fact, read it over several times! Wonderful, Donna.
That is great praise indeed Wendy…thank you!
Rest, you come to me wearing many
costumes, engaged in many scenarios.
It is a privilege to choose what kind of rest that is relevant. Different ways to meet different wants. Rightly so Donna!
Hank
It took me awhile to learn this, but it has served me well now.
So exquisite, beautifully written Donna, I have this vision of you writing this in your yoga pants on curled up on your sofa, looking out over your gorgeous garden… or maybe you wrote it in the depth of night when sleep was now where to be seen?! It is such a thought provoking piece of writing, one that I think many of us will relate to, and all of us can enjoy!
Wren x
I love your visions of me writing….it was more the yoga plants and looking out over the garden, how i write. Glad you did so enjoy this!
I agree with all of those who have commented before me. This is a special piece – an ode to rest and regognition for the times when sleep won’t find us and we must find other ways to rest.
Much gratitude for such a lovely compliment!
Rest comes with many faces, and you have portrayed them well,
Elizabeth
Thank you so much Elizabeth!
I hope you and Rest form an intimate relationship–and I hope you enjoy the journey–
Thank you Audrey…we are enjoying our journey together these days!
Eloquent!
Oh how lovely of you to say so!
I love this, Donna! We so often denigrate resting as a form of laziness. Nice to see her get her proper due.
Thanks Jean…she is indeed an important part of our health.
Rest is a fine friend, a wonderful comfort, long may it reign.
Anna :o]
Absolutely agree Anna…thanks!
Absolutely adored reading this. By the time I reached the end, it’s gentle pace had calmed me completely 😀 XXX
I am pleased you picked up on the pace of the poem Gina and it calmed you!
Stress is a big stealer of sleep. When this is the case I have to try and find other ways to relax.
Stress robbed me of sleep and it was then I found rest….now sleep is returning more with retirement! 🙂