“Night Thoughts” published at Gobblers & Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry

I’d like to announce my poem “Night Thoughts” has been published at Gobblers & Masticadores. Many thanks to Juan Re Crivello and Manuela Timofte and their staff for this opportunity to share my poetry with their readers.

“Night Thoughts”
© 2012 by Michael L. Utley

“I vomit out myself again each night
When lights go out and tired thoughts awake
To find that darkened mere from which to slake
Their thirst for dark dominion. In the bright
And sane pedantic musings of the light
Where every thought, word, deed presumes to take
On tones of gilded gravity, I stake
My soul against the coming evening’s fight.

The day is done; I’m with my thoughts, alone
And sleep cannot—will not—this night prevail.
My mind, a dynamo, begins to race
And images appear as if they’ve grown
In some dark, dank and fetid fen. I quail
As my true self confronts me, face to face…”

You can read the rest of my poem by clicking this link. Also, don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Gobblers & Masticadores, where you’ll find some wonderful writing and plenty of food for thought.

43 thoughts on ““Night Thoughts” published at Gobblers & Masticadores”

  1. rajkkhoja's avatar rajkkhoja

    Congratulations! Indeed & sounded words written you.

    The day is done; I’m with my thoughts, Alone And sleep cannot—will not—this night prevail. Nice written these.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, my friend, for your kind words. Don’t forget that you can read the entire poem by clicking on one of the two links I’ve provided–the links will take you to the website where the entire poem has been posted.

      I hope you’re doing well and staying happy. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thanks, Sam. Yeah, you know me: not a fan of coffee at all. 😆 This is an old poem where I was playing with sonnet format. I think it took about ten hours to write, and I was exhausted by the end. I enjoyed the highly structured aspect of the piece, though, and had fun writing it. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. I’ll admit My Friend, you put me on the pathways to finally getting around to a piece that took me 10 years to write because I wouldn’t release an old ‘dismal’ archive and something blue thinking it wasn’t gold. This was gold, very nice Mike!! The fun’s the best part when the night tips into the morning and somehow that afternoon nap feels earned🌌😎🌞😄 with structure too, what a thoughtful dude and poet. Have a Happy Memorial Day, Mike 😊😌

        Liked by 1 person

  3. I love how, despite the overwhelming gloom, a calming voice eventually guides you towards sleep, leaving you (and us) to ponder…

    Something that always blows me away about many of your poems, Mike, is that every line feels essential and purposeful, despite the length (which is something that I struggle with). Your depth of thought comes through each word.

    ~David

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Thank you kindly, David. This old poem was exhausting. I’d challenged myself to write a longer sonnet (my first sonnet attempt had yielded my poem titled “Grandfather” part 1) and I was up all night and into the morning writing this one. I love structured poetry–it’s such a challenge–and I was really wiped-out by the time I finished it. I enjoyed the bleak imagery and the antiquated terms (“mere,” “anon,” etc.) and was rolling for a few hours, then fatigue set in and man, it was tough after that. A tired mind renders thinking difficult, and I remember just sitting and staring at the screen for minutes at a time in a daze of fatigue. I was glad I was able to tie it up at the end.

      My insomnia has been around since age 11 and nothing has ever put a dent in it. It’s so destructive. I wanted to dramatize what it feels like to battle this malady. Obviously, demons don’t attack me at night, but I was searching for a way to convey the hopelessness, despair and resignation severe chronic insomnia entails. It’s incredibly frustrating and life-altering.

      Thanks for your super-kind appraisal, good sir. I truly appreciate you. 😊

      Liked by 2 people

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  11. My mind, a dynamo, begins to race
    And images appear as if they’ve grown     – LIKE MYSELF…

    Reading you is like reading my soul sometimes in another person… I can relate to what you feel and love how you put everything in place. You are the best Mike and I thank you for this.
    Blessings.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. You’re so kind, Miriam. Isn’t it strange how sometimes poetry connects people together in such unique ways? Words have power across the miles, oceans and continents, and we find commonality amohg those who live far away. I’m glad for this. Thank you for your wonderful and thoughtful comment, my friend. I’m so glad to know you enjoy my poetry. I feel the the same way about your writing. Here’s wishing you a good rest of the week! 😊

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  13. WordPress is glitchy this morning, Mike, so here is the comment I tried to leave on Gobblers:

    Each time I finish reading one of your poems, Mike, the first word that comes to mind is “Wow!” Not only is this a beautiful sonnet that reaches deeply into the reader’s soul, but the topic in which you write about resonates. Being alone with our own thoughts can be dangerous and detrimental to our well-being. But then the conclusion is met with a profound question. Amazing writing, as always!

    “What’s done in daylight holds no power here.
    We’ll strip the varnish from your petty dreams
    And rid you of your sanity anon.
    For daylight is a poor façade for fear
    And reason ineffective when screams
    Will render moot the light you count upon.”

    Oh my! The situation you portray through your brilliant language is so powerful! Congratulations again on another fabulous publication and recognition! ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Lauren. This poem is so dark, and although I used plenty of artistic license to dramatize the frustration/futility of insomnia, it’s still something that plagues me to this day. No answers, no solutions, just live with it, you know? I’m grateful for your incredibly kind sentiments, my friend. Despite the darkness, I had a lot of fun writing this in sonnet form. 😊

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