# Can You Sleep Through Awakenings?

Author: Apolarbear17
Tags: Awakenings, LGBTQ, Maturity, Metaphor, National coming out day, Poetry, Shame, acceptance, inadequacy, venting

This was a poem I originally wasn’t planning to post till some nebulous point in the future but when I learned it was National Coming Out Day about two months back I decided to go ahead and post it for then even if I was a few days late for it because this just felt fitting. This is a poem about uncertainties and confusion and how it can all began to start making sense once you’ve moved past some of the shame and accepting the more out there parts of yourself. Originally posted in October 2024.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Can You Sleep Through Awakenings?

 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;By: A.X. Bueno&nbsp;

 

 

An awakening is something you’re supposed to feel deep within&nbsp;

 

In your mind and in that tingling feeling of your skin

 

But what if that awakening comes and you feel nothing at all&nbsp;

 

Or you went on ignoring them so long so nothing bad would befall

 

And thus you can’t really recall them anymore&nbsp;

 

When you’ve finally accepted yourself by venturing past that closet door&nbsp;

 

But you’re still confused on whether you’re truly awake or not

 

How many times did you push down those stirring feelings aside&nbsp;

 

While others seem like they’ve figured it out you’re emotionally distraught&nbsp;&nbsp;

 

That’s slightly hyperbolic but you feel so lacking in experience it’s created a divide

 

Or so it feels, between you and others as you don’t recall these awakenings so well

 

For you it’s mostly a haze that you have to try to focus on and compel&nbsp;

 

Compel out those old feelings you couldn’t confide&nbsp;

 

Sometimes so oblivious you weren’t even aware of what there was to hide&nbsp;

 

Which is part of what allowed you to stay asleep for as long as you did&nbsp;

 

You’re older now though&nbsp;

 

These awakenings no longer passing by undetected on your mental grid&nbsp;

 

Sure there’s no alarm for these kinds of things but you’ve had time to grow&nbsp;

 

To recognize things you couldn’t before and be less ashamed&nbsp;

 

By being wiser and more in the know&nbsp;

 

Of course there’s still some confusion and yet more growing to do&nbsp;

 

Awakenings are not a one time thing for in life there is always something new&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/Jewy5kJn