Dream

I had a dream that I drifted in
with no idea when, or how it begins.

There was once a time
a time when you smiled
sang love songs on your car radio
and drove us beneath starlit skies
then there were sunny days
when the wind sighed
spent walking along paths
strewn with windswept leaves
our fingers carelessly intertwined
yes, there was a time
I woke up to your smile
and tried to wipe the drool
off the sleeve of your jacket
or was it that time
you walked away and left
when all I wanted
all I wanted was to cry
but that, too, was the time
you came back and held me
all red and swollen up and ugly
nothing beautiful in me to find
you whispered, "You do know that I
would never, ever leave you behind."

Then I jerked awake, the stars were gone,
just empty black sky stretching on and on.