Oneirodynia

Disoriented, I wake

stand at the kitchen sink

For a moment, I feel as if I’m a child, again,

living in Indiana, hunkered down,

waiting for a blizzard, hoping they close school tomorrow

But the wind doesn’t howl at my window

tomorrow’s forecast is sunny and warm

folks are hoarding sanitizer and toilet paper

not bread and milk

In eighth grade, I read the dictionary a page a day

read words I thought I’d never use

Standing at the window adolescent lessons and

the last drippings of a nightmare invade my consciousness

‘Oneirodynia’ (distress associated with dreaming) comes to mind

People are dying, these are strange times

and I wish this was only a distressing dream

4-5-20