We sat together on the bench,
we’d walked two miles before-
And though neither would admit it
Rest must precede two more.
We looked out upon the water
on this clear but windy day
as it ran in rivulets
down to the Great South Bay.

“I had a dream,” my brother said
“I’ve never dreamt before.”
“I was back on Fern Cliff Avenue.”
“It was nineteen sixty four.
“Back in our house that they tore down
to build  another store.”

“Dad was there, our grand kids too
Some he’d never lived to know.”
“Dad wanted to get out for a walk,
No one else seemed up to go.
So I said I’d accompany him,
Just a minute though.”

He was out the door before I rose
And half way down the block.
You never saw him move so fast.
It was something of a shock”.
“But as I was just twenty five
And I could really fly.
I was sure that I’d catch up with him
I’d hardly need to try...”

“John, it was the strangest thing-
as his lead increased still more.
Each block I walked I gained ten years
Soon everything was sore.”

“When I reached the cemetery block
Down near old John Bowne High
I was every day of seventy
With cataract clouded eyes.”

Inexplicably there was a bar
where a Dry Cleaners was before.
I felt in need of a stiff drink.
So I went in the door.”

“when I went in I was shocked to see
Our Father waiting at his seat”
“He ordered us each a Jamesons
His with ginger ale, mine neat.”

“I know this must be strange to you”
Our sainted Father said. “But I have
Missed you all so much
In the years since I’ve been dead”

“I prayed to see you all once more,
ere I was born again.”

“As a new born child, I will forget
All loves that came before.”
“The wheel of fate will turn again
You’ll see me nevermore”

“We drank then to each others’ health
and stayed to the last call.”
Such stories that he had to tell
I hope I remember all”

“The barkeep nodded towards the door.”
It was my  time to go.”
“I shook our father’s hand once more
As fate would have it so..”

“Just then a loud noise in the street
Awakened me in bed”
“In vain I tried to sleep again,
To find the vision in my head”

My brother grabbed his walking stick
It once was Dad’s, now his
“I usually don’t remember dreams,
But I remembered this.”