by John Grey

In this rescue of a dream,
the door’s flung open,
all guards are fast asleep,
there’s light at the end of the corridor,
stairs leading up to the world,
friends waiting with a fresh horse,
a splendid gallop into the highlands,
through the mountain pass,
and into the euphoric land of my fathers.
A rat nibbling on
my filthy bare toe awakens me.
Once more,
tight chains choke my limbs.
My eyes resume
their constant-dark-induced blindness.
My tongue repels
at memory of the last
weevil-riddled meal.
A dream has no idea
what life is like.
Not even nightmares get it.
&
&

John Grey

John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident. Recently published in That, Muse, Poetry East and North Dakota Quarterly with work upcoming in Haight-Ashbury Literary Journal, Hawaii Review and the Dunes Review.

Artist: Mazarine Rinegg