ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

My Three O’Clock Nap

© Stephen Whiteside 29.10.2012

There once was a time I could race through the day,
And half the next night, too, with little to pay,
But now I’m a very cantankerous chap
Without my three o’clock nap.
 
My zing, my vitality’s clean flown the coop;
My body is fading, my mind’s in a soup;
I’m weary and  bleary – too soggy to snap
Without my three o’clock nap.
 
Ned Kelly had gone without sleep for two nights
When the train came from Melbourne to put out his lights.
The Gang might have got into less of a flap
If they’d just had a three o’clock nap.
 
Leichhardt with great hope and zest sallied forth.
Alas, he was lost in the great Austral north.
Success would have fallen right into his lap
If he’d had a sweet three o’clock nap,
 
Which brings me, of course, to the great Burke and Wills,
Who suffered a varied assortment of ills.
They also, I’m certain, fell into the trap
Of skipping their three o’clock nap.
 
I’ve learnt from these infamous blokes from the past
Who, sadly, have all flown their flags from half mast.
All of their strategies had this big gap.
I’m facing the world with a different map.
I’ll spruik and I’ll sing, I’ll recite and I’ll rap,
Bottomless wells of endurance I’ll tap,
But alas, I’ll turn into a spiritless sap...
Without my three o’clock nap.

How to solve the problems of the world - a three o'clock nap. Love it Stephen. I think Winston Churchill indulged in an afternoon nap.

Heather

I like it. I always enjoy the writing where a seemingly small and almost unnoticed part of life is developed it into a poetic experience. You have even related it ( imaginatively to Australian history.

Thanks, all, for positive feedback.

Neville, you can always be relied upon for thoughtful, detailed, intelligent, critical comment. Why don't you offer your services to the ABPA magazine as their book reviewer? There is a real shortage of good poetry reviewers in Australia. It would be great to have somebody who was prepared to review bush poetry collections for the magazine. It's not a service that anybody offers now, or so it would appear. (Of course, I'm speaking as a reader only. I can't speak for the editor.)

Thanks for the kind vote Stephen, I'll have to pass on that.

I would have finished reading your poem,but it was time for a lie down.

With a bit of luck you will get to finish it later this afternoon or this evening, Mal. You can always bookmark it.

G'day Stephen,

This poem has the feel of a song. I mean it sounds like it should be sung. The form of the final stanza only reinforces my thoughts on the matter.

As for the little nap. I try not to but often find myself being overtaken by the urge not long after lunch. My sister-in-law says it is because I overload with carbs. I find unless I get up and go outside or find something pleasant to do (like ironing, or something else that requires standing or moving about like vacuuming) I drift off. It is a bother when I drift off when knitting. I can't explane it but somehow I keep knitting but I change stitches, so I have to pull that bit out and do it again. You would think If I can do it when asleep I would at least keep the stitch right! I am making a school cardigan for Matilda at the moment so it has to be perfect.

Back to the poem - I like it and can relate to it completely. I agree that many folk would benefit from a little nanna nap.

Embrace the somnolence, Zondrae!

Thanks.

That's bonza Stephen. I love it. If the world relied upon me as its Timekeeper I could be absolutely accurate....at approx 2.30p-3 o'clock. I've always called my sudden narcoleptic crash ''my 3 o'clock flop.'' I missed out on my nanna-nap the other day (not unusual) but this time I was really really tired...at 3 o'clock...so I thought I'd lie down for ''just a half hour'' at 6pm. I woke up 4 hours later!! Cooked tea at 10.30pm. So it's very wise to keenly observe one's ''3 o'clock nap.''
Bonzaaa poem mate.(or song...as Zondrae noted.)