In the Dream of the Broken Clock

I awake and expect the moon to be
as silent as always
floating calmly between the clouds
but tonight she instead
has fire in her eyes
has painted the flowers violet
slashed them with scarlet shadows
fire and blood

she is laughing with silver crickets
mouth open
hair all over the sky
cheeks full
bellowing
sharing her secrets with everyone
except me
all I can find are echoes

the clock can no longer tell me the time
or time has just given up
stopped
but I think it must be summer
spring at least
I am pretty sure it is time to burn my clothing
dance around the fire
join the parade of moths lightning up the night

they tell me the sky is a cloak of ember wings
the moon is laughing at our pride
stars astonished by our insignificance

dawn is out there somewhere
probably getting closer to the horizon

my hair is all over the sky
a lure for moths
trying to tell me
in which direction
the waking world lies in wait

but, I cannot understand
so, I will just dance here for a while
or encircle the laughing moon
enticing her to tell me her secrets
until the clock
decides
to go back to work

[2003]

Reviews

[Su' Nacnetaf]

Loved it! It's as previously stated, surreal, but also kind of gave me a primal sensation as I read it. There's much imagery to consider here and I bloody love that, and the ending even made me smile a little. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[Marie]

Surrealistic and filled with images...night fire and dancing...wanton under the moon...