I had this dream
you were there
clouds grew in the sky
above the wilderness-houses
safe, normal with windows, you were there
flower box gardens contained stand ins for flowers, mountain dew cans, red-shaped candy wrappers, you
were there
I could not buy green bananas, there is no
wait, you were there then I was born
smiling somehow, cotton stuck to my teeth,
vasoline,
but my face it melted, you were there,
it fell down to my
knees,
you were there you stole my ears, and then you stayed away

if you were here, if you were,
I wouldn’t lay down
awake to pray for me to
sleep