Dreaming prime numbers 7,919

You climb

Your favorite neighborhood tree from childhood.

You climb until you can see

Beyond the trees and houses of your neighborhood.

Your neighbor does not want you in their tree

And neither does dad.

They call up through the branches.

You stay still until they leave.

On the way home, you rehearse a story,

Because you’d rather lie

Than take another beating like a man

…even in a dream.

12-17-22