Lucid Dreams

 

*Poem originally published in ink Volume 3 (2020) of the Vancouver Public Library

Trapped inside the four walls, 
desperate for a wisp of fresh air 
all motions 
seem to halt. 
The clock on the wall 
in a haze of slumber. 
snoring loudly with the 
indefinite tick-tocks. 

The dog-eyed book 
sits still on the desk 
wishing the characters would come out
and talk about their days. 
The wilted flower on the balcony 
with its petal shriveled 
bends its delicate neck 
to contemplate 
about the chats it once had 
with the sparrows. 

I take a snooze 
on the flowery couch. 
Dreams
slowly passing in my head
like a Kodak film tape.

Humid dreams 
about rain puddles by the sidewalk
paper boats floating. 
Cotton-candy colored dreams 
tulips blooming in the spring breeze, 
eight year old me delightedly eating waffle ice cream at a Dutch
windmill. 

Chalk-dusted dreams 
about a grade seven class
flamboyant trees
 their bright red petals 
like little flames 
while the scorching summer wind blowing by. 
Visions of late summer nights 
filled with the smell of chlorine. 
The translucent light reflected 
by the tranquil poolside. 

I reach out to grab a bubbling dream
hoping to relive
in the haunting nostalgia.
It pops.

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