Unmortared

1981

Suddenly my feet pressed gravel

Duke strayed from the driveway to the grass

To my left rose the green slate wall

Of our Cochrane Street apartment

The garage lay ahead in darkness

I stopped, still in the glow of the streetlight

Why have I come back after a year?

What had I left behind?

Duke turned, startled at my pause

Then I knew it was a dream

Carefully I scrutinized the crushed limestone,

The foundation blocks and black windows

The mind’s detail amazed me

The stones were real.

Suddenly my feet left the ground

I teetered in midair, rising slowly

Duke barked, I knew he would wake Sue

He leaped backward and howled increasing loud

As he grew smaller.

The air rushed by

I wondered at my ability to simulate flying

I wanted to explore this dream

But the ground had disappeared into a gray haze.

I continued to rise

This may not be a dream, I thought

I stumbled through prayer

Then woke

To tingling flesh

In a silent room.