Nightmares are often just
by John Paul Calavitta

1. Nightmares are often just

asleep in a Grimm story
men and plants drink

I un-dream all that came true

add one stone to the indifferent cairn
for the years that did not count

acres of nothing but acres
packed with birds and ghosts

a stuffed black dog in the hall
cannot live in the same room twice

tethered to my writing finger
only a bird could get in

the bell went on for ever
and the silence was not golden

nothing human here
we, we are the others

I escape with my dog