Father of My Dreams

He came to me in my dreams, Night after night. Dad, you’re not supposed to be here. He never talked, He just hung out with me. Night after night, As though the cancer had never taken him. I finally acquiesced. We just hung out. Night after night. My family and I were hiking; My father was not around. A large rattlesnake blocked our way. Out of nowhere, my father appeared, Grabbed the snake from the path, And threw it off in the woods. He turned and ran down a dock, Into the sun, And leaped up high, Into the lake, Laughing joyfully. As he hit the water, I realized his body was naked, And it was whole, and strong, and healed. He didn’t visit again for many, many years. It does give one pause…