Dream
Darkness
Then a glimmer
A glimpse of light
At the edges of the mind
A forest comes into view
Green, verdant, aromatic
Surrounding me with peace
With stillness
With comfort
Soon, I hear the voice
Of an old friend I haven’t seen
In forty years
He is there
My old comrade
No change in appearance
The same as in our youth
His words are familiar
Humorous, happy
But then, I’m yanked away
To the wall of the castle
Looking out from the precipice
Upon the far-off lake
A mirrored surface waveless
Reflecting the sun
On a cloudless day
I see the world of nature
For what it really is
--
With a twist and turn
My wife is there
In the room behind me
Asking where I’ve been
I raise my head
The pillow beneath me
Foggy memories
I stare back into the room
All dreams forgotten.