in my dreams
something is always
chasing me
that something
changes
sometimes
a malicious ghost
sometimes
nothing definitive at all
just something
to run from

I spend most of my
dreams
coming up with plans
to escape
to hide
if I crawl inside the
computer
and become one
with the technology
the lady ghost
will never
find me here

until
she decides
to use
the computer
she always does

if I sneak into
this auditorium
maybe
I can blend in
and whatever
I am running from
will give up

climbing
over rows of unoccupied
seats
think I am
safe
until I look around
surrounded
by amish women
I am like
a bright red button
in a mound of dust

my attempts
always futile
I will
never succeed
never get away
it will
find me every time
but what will?

the dream
changes
as soon
as I am found
my eyes
open
before I can ask
why

five years
dreaming
of constant pursuit
it's no wonder
my
waking life
is filled
with exhaustion

when I dreamt
of an armed man
chasing me
through fields of wild grass
I turned on him
grabbed
the gun
and shot

one
two
three
still trying
to grab me
hundreds
of bullets
pierce his
dreamt up flesh
and he does not stop

I've been told
in these dreams
instead of
running
to ask
what they want
why am I
being pursued

I dare you to try
my dreams are nightmares
if I ease my flight
for a second
the darkness
will consume me