Sleep Snare

 Dear Reader,

I have always had much difficulty in sleeping and often wake up twice in the night.  I go downstairs and make myself a cup of tea and that usually allows me to go back to sleep after a little while.   

I thought it would be interesting to read a bit about sleep and here are my findings: around 400BC it was thought that the drop in the surface temperature of a sleeping person was the cause of sleep. But it was in 162 AD that Galen identified the brain, rather than the heart, as the seat of consciousness.

Much like breathing and eating, sleep is a natural function.  There are several theories as to why we need sleep.  One of them suggests that rest became a survival adaption that allowed creatures to become quiet and still when they would be most vulnerable.  The second theory suggests that sleep allows living beings to minimize their energy, especially if food sources are scarce, since your metabolism slows down when you are asleep.

Researcher Roger Ekirch points to evidence that segmented sleep patterns were common during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. During this time it was considered a regular habit to have a first and second rest period during the night while experiencing a peaceful wake time in between.

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From Gilbert White  July 20th 1778 in Hampshire

'Much thunder.  Some people in the village were struck down by the storm, but not hurt.  The stroke seemed to them like a violent push or shove.  The ground is well soaked.  Wheat much lodged (laid flat).'

From Francis Kilvert  July 22 1873 in Cornwall

'Today the heat was excessive and as I sat reading under the lime I pitied the poor haymakers toiling in the burning Common where it seemed to be raining fire.'

                                                                                      Sleep Snare

I lie awake and hear
the clock strike three,
and wonder how to
snare elusive sleep,
how to capture it,
how to find
its hiding place
and coax it back to bed.
I might entice it
with crimson berries,
or butter croissants
then pounce on it,
and let it loose
inside my head.
But sharp is cunning sleep
it knows the tricks,
is bored of counting sheep.

I must fly northwards
to the moon
and let sleep take me

soon

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                             soon

 

 

                                                                                                                        soon

     

With very best wishes, Patricia