Dreams

 It is later than late, 
the simmered down darkness 
of the jukebox hour.
 

The hour of drunkenness 
and cigarettes.
 
The fools hour.
 

In my dreams, 
I still smoke, cigarette after cigarette.
 
It's okay, I'm dreaming.
 
In dreams, smoking can't kill me.
 

It's warm outside.
 
I have every window open.
 
There's no such thing as danger, 
only the dangerous face of beauty.
 

I am hanging at my window 
like a houseplant.
 
I am smoking a cigarette.
 
I am having a drink.
 

The pale, blue moon is shining.
 
The savage stars appear.
 
Every fool that passes by 
smiles up at me.
 

I drip ashes on them.
 

There is music playing from somewhere.
 
A thready, salt-sweet tune I don't know 
any of the words to.
 
There's a gentle breeze making 
hopscotch with my hair.
 

This is the wet blanket air of midnight.
 
This is the incremental hour.
 
This is the plastic placemat of time 
between reality and make-believe.
 
This is tabletop dream time.
 

This is that faint stain on your mattress, 
the one you'll discover come morning, 
and wonder how.
 
This is the monumental moment.
 
The essential: look at me now.
 
This is the hour.
 

Isn't it lovely? Wake up the stars! 
Isn't it fabulous? Kiss the moon! 
Where is the clock? The one that 
always runs ahead.
 The one 
that always tries to crush me with 
its future.
 

Originally published in Literati Magazine, Winter 2005.

Copyright © Lisa Zaran 2005

Biography | Poems | Best Poems | Short Poems | Quotes | Email Poem |

Poems are below...