Widdershinnery

Dream #31

I’ve passed by that old hotel countless times,

entered the brass and glass revolving door

from New York, and exited into in Chicago.

But inside the lobby, it’s always the same:

Hitchcock doors opening and closing,

someone just a few steps ahead,

Dream #30

I adored her from the get-go,

so I was happy to drive her to the lab

that claimed a finger-prick of blood each day.

I watched the needle tap her skin and squirmed,

but she simply observed the needles and vials,

and whispered into the doctor’s ear,

"I can't use Number 38."

Nodding, he knew just what she meant.

Dream #29

Do you know that feeling that whispers “Home!”

to your heart? It’s a warm shiver and a gentle thud.

I felt it deeply, passing under the archway of trees,

my car never wavering, even with no one at the wheel —

just me in the passenger seat, drinking it in,

smiling at first glimpse of the low-slung yellow house,

Dream #28

In the old Boston Gardens there is hardly a sound

that doesn’t echo a ball on the court.

In the light of the exit signs, Judy & I,

wearing long skirts and sensible shoes,

dribble and shoot with grace and ease,

keeping our own in our two-on-two game

Dream #27

I’m a brilliantly white pear-shaped bird

dripping jewels like tears from one eye.

Did I mention that I am also enormous?

Trouble! I flee but can’t fly,

and find myself a bystander once again,

caught in a movie that reminds me

for all the world of Yellow Submarine

with Peter Max characters briskly striding

Dream #26

From the rail of the ferry or sail boat or scow,

I watch the lights come on from the land ahead.

Pastel colors flick in through the darkness,

I fall in love with the neon glow of night time.

I recognize the city’s skyline

almost as fast as it changes:

Miami, Portland, Seattle, Houston:

Dream #25

The “Cat in the Hat” does not speak, it seems,

or maybe that’s just one of his tricks.

He’s larger than me, and softer by far;

I almost did not recognize him

without his hat,

but as he snaked his long arm around me,

and purred a sound almost like my name

[Recurring] Dream #24

Barely inside

the massive conference center,

I notice that my shoes

have gone missing.

Again.

They do it every year.

Other people have nice,

normal naked dreams, but

I only ever get as far

Dream #23

I didn’t even know that there were

sleepaway camps for grown-ups like me.

I don’t know, either, what I did to deserve this,

but I’m going to camp! And why not?

The brochure certainly makes

some beautiful promises.

I can’t wait to let the other girls

giggle and smile as they tell me everything

Dream #22

It was a very strange hotel,

but the $100 discount came in handy

for my toddler son and me.

In one of the gold-leafed dresser drawers,

we found an exotic ant farm,

And cans of soup with inscribed labels

That we simply could not decipher.

Best of all: 3D paintings on the walls

And guests who did their own cleaning.