Grumpy skies,
cranky flat cloud
forms my pillow;
tucked to one side.
Thunder grumbles
as letdown lightning strikes.
Pitter-patter,
pins and needles,
my sullenness pours.
Gurgling gutter,
I’m pulled under
an ill-tempered tide.
My tension to keep
in a sulky sleep.
© 2022 | K.Hartless
Sarah hosts today’s Quadrille at dVerse. Incorporate the word sleep into a 44-word poem.
Yard Sale of Thoughts 
Grey weather makes a grey mood. Brilliant how you’ve pictured it here, K! ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Tom.💜 We’ve had those moody storms the past few days, unpredictable agitators.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this stormy slumber – I think the image of a ‘cranky flat cloud’ as a pillow is my favourite.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. With the full moon and thunderstorms; it’s a wonder anyone around here’s getting any sleep.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the weather imagery here – it made me think of the heaviness of the time before a storm, the physical pressure. A pillow like a cloud is usually a good thing, but you flip that beautifully.
LikeLike
I love the description and metaphor. It made me feel a bit grumpy. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. There are a lot of cranky folk around here from the recent storms.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. I don’t remember where you are, but bad storms can definitely make people cranky.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. All quiet here today. I’m in the U.S. on the East coast, right now. Will set sail again next year, hopefully. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the rhythm and the word play in this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks, Ali. It’s fun crafting quadrilles and also enjoying everyone else’s brevity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brilliantly done!! Lovely piece. 🦋
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly, Joni. I’m hoping for more restful sleep this evening, now that the storms appear to be rolling away. 💜
LikeLike
Brilliant! A sulky sleep indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Carol. 💜
LikeLike
Thank you, Carol. Much less mopey sleep last night. I think this poem got it all out for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love that term — sulky sleep. Been there, done that, too damned often.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d like to think I’m able to let things go before bed, as advised, but I admit it’s not so. Heavy bags sometimes follow me on my nightly hikes. Thanks for reading and commenting, Rob.
LikeLike
Beautifully written, I’ll-tempered, loved how you used this word! I appreciate the structure too! 😊💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much. 💜 I need a less moody sleep this evening. Fingers crossed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤞🏽😇 also, I meant to type “ill-tempered. Autocorrect! 😳
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fine work indeed. I esp like the gurgling gutter, one of which is sounding off just outside my window right now. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Parallel prisons, my friend. Thank you.
LikeLike
Beautiful lines with excellent description of cloud and in that type of weather we get a sulky sleep well shared thanks 😊👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks, Priti. 💜I think the clouds around here may be lifting soon.
LikeLike
You are welcome 🙂 I also think so.😊🥰 Stay happy 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know that mood. I love the pins and needles rain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Worms. Was caught (not unpleasantly) in a numbing rain this afternoon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
this reads so quickly…lovely poem!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks, Stacy. I appreciate your kind comments.
LikeLike
So many noteworthy phrases….I love “letdown lightning” and “my sullenness pours”! And of course, the title! Brilliant writing and very relatable. 💙
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for this kind praise. 💜And now I’ll have a much less sulky sleep this evening.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome, K. Hope the sleep is silky.
LikeLike
I adore the connections you’ve made between mood and the rain clouds. During the winter, I have this arise for me at times. Lovely poem, K. 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly, Jeff. 💜Too many cloudy days in a row and I do feel sullen. Here’s to more sunshine ahead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, K. 💜 I completely understand. More sunshine is welcome. 🌞
LikeLike
Never mind. It’ll all look better when you wake.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True. The sun is shining today, so it has to look better, no?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Shawna.
LikeLike
A beautiful poem! Love the images throughout, especially the ill-tempered tide.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Dwight. Too many rainy days in a row and we’re all moping around here. I appreciate your kind comments.
LikeLike
OMG. Your imagery just takes the grumpiness from level to level. Bravo!!!
Thanks for dropping by to read mine
Much💛love
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Gillena. Much love to you as well. 💜
LikeLike
Skyfolk do have their moments, don’t they. I enjoyed the adjectives you used in this, K.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly, Lisa. I was finally able to showcase Teena Marie last week. I hope you saw it on Songshine. Thank you for letting me reshare that story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. No I didn’t see it but you are welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the extended metaphor you’ve used here, K!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Ingrid. Way less gloomy around here today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to hear it!
LikeLike
a moody maelstrom of a poem: exquisite —
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, KK – talk about the writer and the weather being one! You merged them so seamlessly in this poem – fantastic
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks, David. 🦋
LikeLike
Love how you use the grey rainy weather as a metaphor of how hard sleep can be to capture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] A Sulky Sleep […]
LikeLike
I love to hear how weather makes different people feel. I know people who absolutely love thunderstorms and those who are upset by them, and then those who feel discouraged when they occur. Applies to pretty much any weather. Nice poem!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Yes, the weather does seem to wave its magic wand and cast its spell on our days. I enjoy the rain, but over a long period of time, I definitely feel a gloominess set in. I appreciate you reading and commenting on this poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful rhythm, with vivid language.!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. 💜
LikeLike