Train of Thought

Am I dreaming 
or have I dreamt myself awake
I can’t seem to discern 
between real and fake
What’s right 
What’s wrong
which direction 
should I take
Am I reasonably responsible 
for the many mistakes I might make

Backward bouncy walking
Crazy ticketed talking
Following the run
in a pretty girls stocking
Unafraid of anything 
Willing to do what’s shocking
Sarcastically mocking 
Listening to head voices
My brain has lost it’s sane 
my body’s rocking

My mind skipping 
from Idea to Idea
You weren’t there a second ago go 
but now I see you
Wait a second 
I can see right through you
Black isn’t white
Yellow is now blue
Bending over
To take a boulder
out of my shoe
They were old yesterday
and now they’re new
But instead of one pair
I’m wearing out two

The room is shaking 
Momma’s in the kitchen 
Half baked
Pieces of everything
Tender flaked
The tiles under my feet
vibrate to the beat
Hey momma
“Trick or Treat?
Give me something good to eat”
Suddenly I’m covered by a sheet
on a cold stainless table
being processed like meat
sliding on a rail
Door closed
Fire burning
someone turning up the heat
Bell ringing, ringing, ringing 
WAKE UP, Wake up Rick
If only I could
That would be a cool trick!
I feel like I’m being beat with a stick
Shake, shake, shake
“wake up Rick its Eight, 
you’re going to be late.”
Get out of bed you fool. 
It’s time for school.”

Eyes open, “I‘m up, I’m up!”
But wait
You can’t hear me talk
Because I’m an unwound
broken old clock
no longer able to tick or tock
I only have hands
so I can’t even walk.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz





Things that make me go hmm. The second hand of clock or watch is actually the third hand. ;0)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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12
Eggleston Avatar
December 1, 2022 at 3:38 PM
Hey, Richard, I'm a new poet! I couldn't help but love the first stanza of your poem, it captivated me Am I dreaming or have I dreamt myself awake I can’t seem to discern between real and fake Loved those lines and your style of writing!
Lamoureux Avatar
December 1, 2022 at 9:43 PM
What a great comment. Thanks so much.
Raven Avatar
July 27, 2020 at 10:31 AM
Hi Richard, here you are again at your creative best. You are always able to show such creativity in whatever thought you wish to encapsulate. This is another of your fast flowing masterpieces. Ever dream the dream my friend. Has to be a fav. Have a wonderful Monday. Blessings....Mike.
Warrior Avatar
May 14, 2020 at 2:23 AM
We are all caught in a Reality Matrix...of which we are dreaming of being awake...well-executed Richard and Congrats!! on POTW!!...best wishes from the Wingster :o)
Watt Avatar
May 13, 2020 at 10:18 PM
Richard, thank you for the roller coaster ride through your dreams. Doctors recommend eating less chili right before bed, lol! Fun write, and congrats on the POTD ~ John
Lamoureux Avatar
May 14, 2020 at 7:11 AM
Thanks a John.
Kauffman Avatar
May 12, 2020 at 10:44 PM
Richard, this poem invites you in and keeps you mesmerized until you are fully awake! Wonderful topsy turvy extended metaphor. Congratulations on your POTW
Lamoureux Avatar
May 14, 2020 at 7:10 AM
Thanks Sam.;0)
Foli Avatar
May 10, 2020 at 10:23 PM
Awesomely impressive piece of poetry Rich. Stay safe and healthy please. My warmest regards to you friend.
Lamoureux Avatar
May 10, 2020 at 10:26 PM
Thanks Gideon.;0)
Nicole Avatar
May 10, 2020 at 6:40 PM
Round and around you go, where will you end up? Nobody knows. Giggle. Or so it seems, in a crazy dream. : ) This is so cute, clever and creative. Thanks for the smile Rick. Congratulations on Poem of the Week. : ) Brandy
Lamoureux Avatar
May 10, 2020 at 10:26 PM
Much appreciated, hugs Rick.
Kitchin Avatar
May 10, 2020 at 6:30 PM
Another gem from you Rick, congratulations on POTW!
Lamoureux Avatar
May 10, 2020 at 10:43 PM
Thanks Tania. Hugs Rick.
Lamoureux Avatar
May 10, 2020 at 5:17 PM
Thanks to all, what a pleasant surprise. I will drop by yo visit each of you. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms.
Marcum Wong Avatar
May 10, 2020 at 3:08 PM
Thank you for the humor Rick. Congratulations on your POTW honor! xxoo
Allison Avatar
May 10, 2020 at 11:57 AM
what a clever humourous write Rick, congrats on POTW:-) hugs jan xx
Cunningham Avatar
May 10, 2020 at 10:56 AM
This is a gem that I missed Richard, glad I saw it today, well written and a well deserved honour of POTW. Tom
Pandit Avatar
May 10, 2020 at 9:56 AM
Deeply contemplative--splendid imagination. Congrats Richard on poem of the week.
Horsman Avatar
May 6, 2020 at 1:17 AM
The Prologue of dreamland, Whats to come, and delivered, wonderful poetry, Richard, needed at these worrying times...Stay Safe...Harry
Lamoureux Avatar
May 6, 2020 at 8:45 AM
Thanks Harry, I appreciate your visits. ;0)
Byrne Avatar
May 5, 2020 at 11:05 AM
Hi Richard, Great piece of work, take care of yourself, Frances
Lamoureux Avatar
May 6, 2020 at 8:46 AM
Thanks Frances, hugs Rick.
Proxenos Avatar
May 4, 2020 at 12:54 PM
This sounds real, but its not real but it could be real, love this fascinating, imaginative, creative story - well penned my friend. Hugs, Jennifer.
Lamoureux Avatar
May 4, 2020 at 1:30 PM
Thanks Jennifer. I wrote it just after waking up. Hugs Rick.
Hicks Avatar
May 4, 2020 at 3:25 AM
Whimsical and topsy-turvy (like any good dream should be). The topic of dreams is such a fascinating one ... and you pulled it off so well, it was more like Alice in Wonderland, really. Loved the cacophony of images and the sheer absurdity of it all.
Lamoureux Avatar
May 4, 2020 at 8:10 AM
Thanks Timothy, I wrote it with the right just the right amount of brain fog.
Theraven Avatar
May 3, 2020 at 9:28 PM
Hello Richard, That train left the tracks a few times. But it was still worth the ride. 'Black isn’t white Yellow is now blue Bending over To take a boulder out of my shoe'. I think Gershon may be right. A Fave for me. -Richard
Lamoureux Avatar
May 4, 2020 at 8:10 AM
Thanks, a great comment to start my morning. ;0)
Ball Avatar
May 3, 2020 at 5:06 PM
Hmmmm Either that's one CaRRazzy dream or you are smoking something weird. This one made me smile. ?Good imagination here. God Bless, JB
Lamoureux Avatar
May 4, 2020 at 8:25 AM
I’m glad I could make you smile. Hugs Rick.
Wolf Avatar
May 3, 2020 at 3:57 PM
Not POTD, I see... Highway robbery if you ask me. This IS a superfabusplendiferous write!! :) gw
Lamoureux Avatar
May 4, 2020 at 8:27 AM
Timothy got the honour with his Dandelion poem. I have to say it was most deserving. Thanks though for your vote of confidence.
Dietrich Avatar
May 3, 2020 at 2:31 PM
so surreal. FEels like a few of MY dreams, Richard. Great images.
Lamoureux Avatar
May 4, 2020 at 9:05 AM
Thanks Andrea. ;0)
Deo Avatar
May 3, 2020 at 12:26 PM
Great writing, & fun to read ---like performance, read-aloud democratic poetry (LOL!) Loved the comments, too, as in A. Hemmati's. Thanks for reading mine today Richard; peaceful dialog is rare these days. PS leads in a way. Shalom, shalom (next HisStory)
Lamoureux Avatar
May 4, 2020 at 9:06 AM
Thanks Anil, much appreciated.
Manassian Avatar
May 3, 2020 at 12:06 PM
This had my head spinning... so much to take in... so much to process. Clever write
Lamoureux Avatar
May 4, 2020 at 9:28 AM
Thanks Eileen, hugs Rick.
Ellison Avatar
May 3, 2020 at 8:28 AM
A very clever, humorous write, Mr. West Coast Man! Really enjoyed the charming conclusion! Cheers, Happy Jack!
Lamoureux Avatar
May 3, 2020 at 8:34 AM
Great to see you old friend. Keep smiling Jack.
Hemmati Avatar
May 3, 2020 at 3:56 AM
I still have no more to say than you and your poetry are true voices of the time. Only as one instance, take another glance at McLeish’s half-a-century old mental journey in “You, Andrew Marvel” to see how far you’ve gone beyond those days’ linear, one-dimensional stream of thought and non-ethereal, prosaic language despite its rich, figurative treatment of the past civilizations' nightfall. You're so much ahead in technique. The technique was employed by Woolf to Faulkner in fiction in a primitive impressionist way with no such surreal, dissolving images as you employ here and is seen in the poetry from Dylan Thomas onward.
Lamoureux Avatar
May 3, 2020 at 8:23 AM
I quite enjoyed reading the piece, I was not familiar with Mcleish. I think his poetry holds up quite well. I am honoured that you compare me with such great writers. I don’t feel worthy but as an old girlfriend once said, I’ve never been good at accepting a compliment. I can thank my dead father for that, he had great skill at making me I was less than enough. So I finish by saying Thank You.
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