A place where no one knows my name
Or even the one I was born with.
A place where I take part in ordinary things
And some things perhaps deemed unusual.

Never alone or left behind,
I interact with other people.
None of them I’ve ever known
But are not strangers in that place.

I visit there at random times
When reading wanders on too long,
Or watching movies that don’t grab,
Or conversations run too on.

Only seldom can I go there just because I want to.
And often times I’m ferried back while
In the midst of reaching out to pick up
Something that will disappear as I return.

And once or twice I was answering
As the returning came too fast
And I invented reasons for the word I spoke
To answer puzzled glances I received.

Not in charge of the going
Or my coming back
An ouphe that’s hiding
In my brain forever mans the gateway.

Is this some magic just for me
Or a normal part of aging
I cannot find a duplicate
Or written word to tell me

I choose to think I’m somehow blessed-
A compensation for my pain.
A place where I find calm relief
A  place that I call Otherwhere
                                         ljm