Title/Subtitle: "Wasting Away" is the title of this poem. Each stanza explains the dilemma that is plaguing the character in this poem. Some days I can relate to this and it can get maddening. Everyone needs sleep, so therefore the title explains what happens when you don't.

Message/Theme: The message this author is writing about is the problem of sleep patterns. Everyone sleeps during the night, while she/he sleeps during most of the day and cannot control why this is happening. The body craves sleep whenever it feels it needs it. How it got so mixed up is unexplainable?

The theme is sleep patterns, trying to understand how it works.

Narrative/Style: The narrative explains what can happen to anybody. It can get trying at times when you go to bed and sleep is elusive. Do you just lie there and wait? Most of us work during the day, so this can get to be a problem.

The style is Health, Psychology, and Experience.

Form/Flow: The form is four 4-line stanzas. The flow is smooth, ten to eleven syllable count in each line.

         Tone: The tone is bewildering, depressing, and uncertain. How did my sleep become so elusive? Why can't I sleep when everyone else goes to sleep, at night?

         Mood: The mood is frustrating, worried, and numb. Sleep comes whenever it wants, it can't be control. That is what can be annoying at times.

Imagery/Pace: The imagery is of someone pacing, not being able to sleep. "I'm moving along as the days slip away.
Up most of night, and only part of the day."

The pace stays with this problem, so relief in sight. "But time will tick away as the sands of time creep."

Suggestions & Typos: I didn't find any errors.

Overall Thoughts: I think a lot of us can relate to this problem from time to time. But not to the point as this poem is saying. I spend sleepless nights two times in a row, no more than that. Thank goodness!

FAVORITE LINE:

I'm losing more time, life seems so dead.
For when I am awake, everyone else is in bed.


If this is happening to you, I can feel your pain when reading this poem. I can imagine how frustrating this can be. I know someone like this, and he finally just takes it all in stride and sleeps when he feels tired which isn't often. I guess everyone needs sleep at different times at different lengths. I don't need as much sleep as my husband who needs more.



Take care now, keep on writing, I’ll keep on reading,

Jeannie



My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .