I Don't Dream, I Drown
When it feels like there's no escape
I close my eyes. I'm drowning.
I open them to the dark.
Drenched in sweat, with quickened breath, heart pounding in my chest.
But the ocean of my dream calls to me.
I close my eyes so I can feel.
I'm underwater once again.
But the familiar sense of helplessness feels like home.
This is where I live.
I'm always drowning, am I not?
Awake, asleep, there's no difference.
The lines of reality blurred like dark rocks wettened by unrelenting waves.
The dark water below tugs at my heart.
I must wake now, or I never will.
A shimmer of light from the surface stirs me from sleep and the darkening night.
It's still dark, but not like before.
About the Creator
Simon George
I write poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. In 2021, I published my debut book "The Truth Behind The Smile" a self-help guide for your mental health based on my personal experience with depression. Go check it out.
IG: @AuthorSimonGeorge
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Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
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Heartfelt and relatable
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Comments (19)
Great poem. I feel you living with trauma and mental health issues feels like you suffocate to fit in both asleep and awake. For the longest time I dreamed to hide my fears
The last stanza of the poem gives a glimmer of hope, as the speaker is able to find a way to wake from the dark dream, and the light from the surface gives a sense of hope for finding a way out of the darkness. The phrase "A shimmer of light" gives an optimistic tone to the poem by suggesting that there is always a way out of the dark. I needed to read this today, I just didn't know up when I woke up this morning.
i can relate, thank you for sharing.
"It's still dark, but not like before." There is so much truth behind this Beautiful poem!
Impressive and astonishing. It's kind of like a metaphor explaining an event of trauma...
This is Awesome. Congratulations for the top story.
Love that seeming of the shimmer of light… thanks for sharing.
This is very dreamlike and familiar. What a great piece!
Great way to express yourself love the poem
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Great poem
Congratulations on creating this top story Simon. Incredible work, I admire the way this piece holds space for the depths of ones darknesses. I look forward to reading your next piece.
The five line is excellent. I really feel this line.
This is incredibly beautiful. Well done and congrats on the Top Story.
Loved these lines, 'I'm always drowning, am I not? Awake, asleep, there's no difference'. I felt them. Excellent work :) Congrats on the Top Story! You've gained a new subscriber.
I absolutely appreciate your feelings of drowning in waking and dreaming, indeed. Hearted. Congratulations on your top story!
Your poem reminds me of almost drowning, my father saved me from the darkness, unconsciousness
Love this line, "But the familiar sense of helplessness feels like home." Well done and Congratulations on your Top story. Hearted and subscribed.
Nice!
I loved your poem, beautifully done.