I Only Remember the Nightmares
Or the dreams where you show up
I’m worried and ask
“Does this ever happen to you?”
But I never remember your answer
Lately we’ve been cooking together
in kitchens I don’t recognize
In one you used the only pan to cook bacon
when I wanted to scramble eggs
My grandson waited at the table
I wanted to give him the best
You were there as a calm presence
and I was sick with stress
Then, I had the wrong pan
The overdone eggs wouldn’t scramble
I knew it was too late for breakfast
The dream ended there
________Colleen Redman / Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads
August 30th, 2015 1:11 pm
oh my yes. the “if anything could go wrong, it will” disaster dream. What a lovely, painful poem you’ve made from that. I can feel my brain tightening up in recognition of it (yes, thats a good thing).
August 31st, 2015 1:12 pm
You got it! It also speaks to me in a dream way because the “you” is my sister who has cancer.
August 31st, 2015 7:31 pm
WOW! I thought this dream was about someone else. That is why poetry is so good. We at times get something different out of it.
August 31st, 2015 7:56 pm
Yes, the beauty of poetry is that is speaks to each person differently and can have more than one meaning/interpretation, like a dream.
September 1st, 2015 9:11 am
Can relate to that…waking up and not remembering the most important part!!!
September 1st, 2015 2:43 pm
Whatever can go wrong will do.. yes I know those dreams.. and I remember those nightmares because I have the same one over and over.
September 1st, 2015 4:37 pm
You’ve captured the absurd, unforgiving narrative of a nightmare. Great!
September 1st, 2015 7:20 pm
Nightmares and reality and the sometimes thin line between–I can relate–
September 1st, 2015 7:30 pm
This is quite moving– the way that we encounter the missing in dreams is so palpable here. It is wonderful that you do not over explain. Thanks. K.
September 2nd, 2015 1:56 am
It seems the bad dreams stay with us….Nightmares take the benign and twist into hell
September 2nd, 2015 6:08 am
Argh! Mundane, yet so BIG and important and all-consuming and what else?