calliope spoke to me last night.
she asked me, with light in her eyes:
"what if our real lives begin
when we fall asleep?"
i didn't answer
because sometimes beauty leaves
one speechless and in awe.
but i smiled.
and as she moved throughout the room,
i felt a sense of wonder.

but sometimes beauty leaves.
and as i awoke,
i realized that i missed
someone from a dream
more than i had missed anyone
else in my entire life.
and i thought to myself as the sunlight
reached for me through the window:
"when i die, i hope
calliope is there to greet me."