Sweet Dreams

She traced across the edges of her dreams And singled them out, one by one Tasting memories like Godiva chocolates, She mouths in silence Words that conjured wishes into life, In other times and other places Back in the magic landscape of a woman's youth, Where possibilities hang on winks and whims. They rise up to meet her, Called forth from the vaults unlocked by sleep. Those souls she has traveled with have aged, And she, as they, has worn to a paper thinness Burnt brown and frail at the edges, So like the old photos of lovers now gone. Some sank into the earth's cold heart, Some turned to smoke and spread into the impassive skies, Some simply - Gone - All joined in the weave of memories And the dreams they bring to birth. The edges of her dreams Go melting down to sweetness now, As within, behind the inscrutable, wrinkled face, Young Lady Godiva slowly starts to smile again.