Invasion

INVASION

The humming of a million cicadas
I am astonished by their singing
These spiny, groping things
With translucent wings

Their underground swarming
Syncs up with the arrival of mine
I have caught their spirit, I am
A shell of my self, my
Red eyes, my white noise

It is evening and they are silent
I lie awake aching, thinking
Of mundane things: a sponge
Full of holes and water, a pale
Arm yearning to grab at the moon

Finally, a restless sleep,
A temporary release
From the dread my spine
Has memorized

I dream I am flying, sloppily at best,
Landing, loose and stumbling,
Trampling a field of closed-up
Flowers, wandering fear-filled
In the dark of my midnight hours.

© Sherri Brannon

I have "caught" menopause. It's unpleasant enough that I like to think of it as a virus, and hopefully there's a quick cure? Insomnia and increased anxiety are two things I do not need in my life, thank you very much. You always hear about the hot flashes, but not the added pleasures of being sleep deprived and on edge!

The sudden onset of symptoms took me by surprise, just as the arrival of the cicadas did. And how interesting that both these invasions arrived in my life at the same time...it's as if mother nature brought the cicadas to bring home the point that life is often chaotic. One moment there was peace and silence in our neighborhood, and the next there were millions of these deafening, spiny insects overtaking every square inch of our property...a literal invasion. They were noisy, and pesky, and intrusive...just like the menopause symptoms invading my body.

Needless to say, I'm ready for them both to leave...here's a poem I wrote, and it's my submission for this week's Poets United. There's nothing worse than the turmoil of a sleepless night...when your brain seeks out every worry as you toss and turn, with bouts of restless slumber in between. I tried to capture that with my words.

This, too, shall pass...of that I'm certain. For anyone who is also dealing with this, you have my deepest sympathy!

NOTE: The photo was taken with my iPhone - last night's beautiful, full moon. The app I used was Scratchcam.

My heart trembles like a poor leaf.
The planets whirl in my dreams.
The stars press against my window.
I rotate in my sleep.
My bed is a warm planet. ~Marvin Mercer