Poem 17 — 100 Days of Poetry
About the Poem:
Insomnia by Dante Gabriel Rossetti is a reflective and emotional poem that explores the feelings of longing and separation that arise during sleepless nights. The poem delves into the inner turmoil of the soul as it reaches out for connection, while also contemplating love and the hope for reunion beyond the boundaries of earthly life.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882) was an English poet, painter, and founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. His poetry often explores themes of love, longing, and the complexities of human emotions, as seen in Insomnia.
Insomnia — Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Thin are the night-skirts left behind
By daybreak hours that onward creep,
And thin, alas! the shred of sleep
That wavers with the spirit's wind:
But in half-dreams that shift and roll
And still remember and forget,
My soul this hour has drawn your soul
A little nearer yet.
Our lives, most dear, are never near,
Our thoughts are never far apart,
Though all that draws us heart to heart
Seems fainter now and now more clear.
To-night Love claims his full control,
And with desire and with regret
My soul this hour has drawn your soul
A little nearer yet.
Is there a home where heavy earth
Melts to bright air that breathes no pain,
Where water leaves no thirst again
And springing fire is Love's new birth?
If faith long bound to one true goal
May there at length its hope beget,
My soul that hour shall draw your soul
For ever nearer yet.
My Reflections on the Poem:
Insomnia captures the haunting and restless feelings that often accompany sleepless nights. The poem’s reflection on the soul’s desire for connection resonated deeply with me during the recording. Rossetti’s lyrical language conveys the way longing and love intertwine, not just in the present, but with a sense of eternity, creating a powerful emotional depth that lingers after the final lines.
This post is part of my 100 Days of Poetry series, where I embarked on a journey to record and share 100 poems over 100 days in 2017. Although the series was interrupted, I’m delighted to continue sharing these timeless works with you.
