Dreams Within Dreams*

I dreamt that

I was at your house

(what house?)

And I woke from dreams and reached for you.

My heart was full of love

And you were as beautiful

As you have always been to me--

It was dark;

I could barely see.

I was talking softly to you,

Touching you,

And because I was still half-held in sleep,

I forgot,

And was as open to you as spring leaves.

You leant into me,

But your voice broke;

You said,

"Shay, I can't do this."

It was raining slightly on the streets outside

As you gave me

Some jeans and a yellow top of yours to wear

(Yellow? Would you ever really wear yellow?)

And so I

Wrapped myself in empty space where you had been,

And woke up to write this poem.

_________

*privately, this poem has a different title...the name of the city where Beatrice lives.