morning dream

an old poet, withering

i visit 

knock at the door

of the man i once lunched with

his dashing lover

his endless mansion

household abuzz with 

sisters and servants

i am led to his side

it is late 

he has just awakened

he does not recognize my face

he is visibly shaken

his kind lover

tells me early is best

as in every dream before

i become lost in leaving

wander the hallways

enter myriad rooms

one of the poet's sisters

a dark jewess with glasses

sees me and sparks fly

she is drowning in love

corners me in the small room

tells me she will wait

ten days for my call

makes me promise

and dashes off gleeful

i continue my quest

that's not the door

but i try it

so embarrassing

the servants have gathered

to usher me through

a door of revolving glass

into a garden party

everyone in suits

i make my way

toward the gate

and someone says

it's a gated community

and as i approach

water gushes from the door

from the ground

a small tsunami

i am wet and embarrassed

and everyone is laughing

i laugh too and say

now i know what a

gated community is

i realize my feet have no shoes

cold wet socks hug them

i must have taken them off

when i saw him

sat on his bed

talked about nothing

no no, not there, i'm told

but perhaps, i think

when his sister kissed me

she took my shoes

for collateral

we are lunching

the three of us

the poet remembers me

and is delighted i came

his courageous lover

smiles with delight

as the poet tells us stories

about the good old times

we laugh and drink wine

i enter a large room

another one of his sisters winces

it is dance class time for girls

and they are busy busy busy

i wish i could join them

don't mind me

i'm looking for my shoes

i sweep past the dancers

enter a little closet

housing a row of old shoes

oh there they are!

but no they are not mine

i try them on and they fit

but they have a small heel

they will have to do

until i get my shoes back

when i leave this time

you are waiting by the car

dressed in a blow-up plastic

robot costume

roller blades dress your feet

you look so ridiculous

as you slide down the sidewalk

you say you found

a vintage toy store

and when you left

they just gave it to you

i realize it fits you

it's a perfect fit

glad you were not bored

waiting all those hours at the car

i show you my shoes

my parisian black slippers

gone forever