I awoke with a dream following me
into day. A vapor of thoughts cheated
out of sleep, pressed me while preparing
under a dim light and morning haze, then
chased my shadow out the door.
A gnawing between my ears, like drums
banging, rattled my thoughts to remember
sleepy images. I hurried along, glancing
behind to footsteps; there were none.
Increasing my pace, hoping to outdistance
the urge to return to bed, the call of night
and the unrest of shadows, I turn the corner
and stop. A bus hisses to a stop. The vapors
close behind me.
