For the fertile corners of Portland, Oregon where daffodils, dogwoods and daphne bloom
And those pollinators of Slovenia
And the river according to Brian Eno and John Cale
And grandma’s dishes to sop up green chili with tortillas, while sitting with grandma ghosts
And curling dog snores
And socks half off because it’s almost warm enough
And dawning dances with Mia and Tia and strangers too.
And sleeping without an alarm so dreams can land without thuds
And carrots and artichokes and lettuces in full-wormed earth
And a book about cosmophony, geophony, and biophony
Oh yes, and impending total eclipses
A Dream
Two of my friends have a little gathering at their new house, a dilapidated trailer on the outskirts of a small city somewhere. The blue sky and dry air make it feel like a New Mexican desert. I am overwhelmed and rushed as I give my friends a hug. They are both in their underwear and dirty white t-shirts. They parade around the trailer showing me various gifts they've constructed for me out of hot dog buns and newspaper clippings. I feel grateful, but a bit jealous at the same time that they've put so much time and effort into making these gifts. I tell them I have to go. They pile hot dog buns into my arms.
A dream
I'm in a parking garage with Beckett. We are climbing up a metal ladder to get to my car. She makes it to the top of the ladder and looks down at me. I tell her to stay right where she is until I am all the way up. There is only a foot or two of space to walk on, and a steep 30 foot drop-off everywhere else. I'm afraid she's going to fall. I try to speed up, but my knee aches. I get to the top of the ladder and again tell her to stay still. She puts her foot out and moves over the edge. I watch her fall. I see her land, face-up, still smiling. I'm terrified as I make my way back down the ladder. I try not to sob. I don't want to see her hurt. I don't want there to be anything wrong with her. I choke back tears and scoop her into my arms. She's still smiling and asking me what is wrong. I hesitate to examine the back of her head for blood and broken bones. I'm too terrified of what I may find. She continues to smile. I pull her in tightly, inhaling her warmth and breath into my own. I wake up.
