Lying in bed
Legs and arms splayed like
A discarded puppet on the stage floor
This is not the pleasant languor
Of a race run hard
Or Saturday morning sex
No, it’s the unwanted lassitude
Of Friday night overtime working third shift
Or of single parenting
This listlessness is protective
The need for a moment
Or two
Or one thousand four hundred forty
To rest
Before returning to limpidity
This is my first contribution to the Ragtag Daily Prompt – the Saturday edition was hosted by Punam at Paeansunplugged with the prompt “languor“.
I had to look up the word and was fascinated and surprised by the subtle nuisances of these L words – languor, lassitude, listlessness, languish while limpidity actually meant something quite different. This prompt spoke to me now that the stress of the start of school has lessened and I am able to regain some time to write and recharge. I had a good “lie about” this weekend – made possible by a visit to the in-laws who helped entertain the kids.
Now you might be thinking that lying about goes against the photo I took of the advertisement (I still don’t know what it’s trying to sell but I liked what it said). But it truly doesn’t – life needs movement and it needs stillness. There is something healing about resting your body and your mind especially with the daily stress that is so prevalent these days. This article illustrates it well. But after a certain time, you do have get up and start moving again.
Life intervals, anyone?
©️ iido 2019
Enjoy your little piece of relaxation, as long as your languor, doesn’t become too lethargic….
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Quite true! I originally was going to use 525,600 as the number in this poem but I thought a year would be too long. A day of lying about (maybe 2) is plenty! Except for people like you – I know you like to keep moving! ❤️
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There is always a time for slowing the clock, I’m going through a easing down at the moment…. I was doing to much blogging and not enough writing… and I’d rather write than blog…. 😅😊📝
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Agreed!
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Your poems are really speaking to your reader. Bravo!
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Thank you, Jane! The need for rest is universal, whether physical, mental or emotional – if only more people listened to this need, I think we would all be better off in the long run.
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I am so glad you joined in, Irma! Yes, there are many subtle nuances to the word and you used them so well. We need bits of languor to recharge for the next lap of life. Wonderful!
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I love learning new things! This was an excellent prompt!
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you portrayed much wisdom while learning new words … Ivor said it well 😉
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Thank you, Kate! Being well rested has many benefits! 😁
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lol a state we’d all refer but is often illusive 🙂
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