.          .          .          It is all I ever recall
                            the flash of a face
                     a turn of the dial
             a road
     a dog
  a dead uncle
a birthday cake iced in blue
the last sentence of a conversation
   the last few moments of my dreams
     then
        upon
             waking . . .
                   they fade into my pillow
                           even when I try
                                    to grab
                                              them
                                                         back           .           .           .