A Dream

A Dream

A Poem by Brett Moore

These cheap sheets itch
and no matter how many sheep 
manifest on this spackled ceiling,
every single night, I am a sentinel.

Counting backwards from total 
loss to love's conception in a truck 
cab, on the parkway, stars 
can't undo this particular set of failures.

So i breathe deeply
in a way that shows 
i'm in way over my head,
but i'm wearing it well.

---------

One deliberate step takes my body over 
the canyons edge, chasing air towards the river, 
where the water may wash me clean,
but the fall will hurt like hell.

I don't have the strength to drag myself out 
and crawl up that cold, sharp rock again.  
I'd rather drown somewhere down stream
in the warm, still water of the lake.

And if clean hands try to save me,
I'll take them, and shake them.
Life is too short to be impolite
and too long to abide loneliness. 

One moment closer to sleeping in the water
as a broken man, but more solidly
climbing, slowly back up the canyon
just to walk off the edge.

© 2014 Brett Moore


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Featured Review

"Life is too short to be impolite." While certainly not axiomatic, it is a notion I like and wish more people would adopt.
Am also plagued by insomnia--though I often comfort myself with the thought that the inability to fall asleep is far less distressing than would be the inability to awaken.
Great write, Brett!

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Brett Moore

6 Years Ago

That's a good point! haha

Thanks for the review!



Reviews

I love this, so intense and longing.
What really hit me was:
"And if clean hands try to save me,
I'll take them, and shake them.
Life is too short to be impolite
and too long to abide loneliness."

(and I must apologize I am terrible at writing reviews)

Posted 10 Years Ago


You won me over with this write Brett! I will hold you in high esteem if I never read anything else this phenomenal from you again...
I'm searching for words that sound as affirmative as my mind responded.
I get the emotion, but the context was a perfect blend of determination and resignation.
Three parts stood out best.

First, "Counting backwards...". I believed there was a total loss and not just an overreaction to normal setbacks. A pickup truck on the parkway is home to me. Great imagery.

Second, the stanza starting, "And if clean hands...", set a pendulum of balance.
I wanted to stop reading and reach into the page to offer my hand. Then I realized,one are not "clean".
You set a hard standard here... Yet you show a desire to be saved. Hope indears the reader to the story.

Lastly, the last stanza. Using every effort of your broken soul to climb ever higher to meet the ledge of this hard destiny.

I can't help but think, maybe at the top the view will reveal enough to change to outcome.
One of my favorite poems ever!


Posted 10 Years Ago


And if clean hands try to save me,
I'll take them, and shake them.
Life is too short to be impolite
and too long to abide lonliness. --incredible stanza, my friend. I want to reach through the screen and shake your hands right now!

This was extremely well done. I can't find any flaws. The flow was great. The set-up and the separation of the sections was a clever idea, and you kept the flow and the feeling throughout. I sense loss and longing, but it is not overwhelming; the idea of sleep and dreaming still wins out. So well done, into my favorites.

Posted 10 Years Ago


Brett Moore

10 Years Ago

You are always so nice! Can we be best friends?! haha

Thank you for the kind words!
Girl Friday (Sarah W.)

10 Years Ago

Of course :) I'll take all the friends I can get. You saw my poems about friends...they are all de.. read more
What I really like about this, is that things get confuse, just like dreams. When I'm in that moment between sleep and still awake, there's these strange images rush through my head before I can fall into deep sleep. Your poems reminds me of this. Anyway, keep up the good writing

Posted 10 Years Ago


Brett Moore

10 Years Ago

I was just talking about this. My girlfriend lives 2000 miles away, on the beach, in paradise.. Jeal.. read more
I enjoyed reading your prose piece. The dream reveals hope for humanity, or perhaps it's love. Nicely done.

Posted 10 Years Ago


Brett Moore

10 Years Ago

It's love, always. The good, the bad and the ugly.
Your writing is so Good. Well Done! Keep Writing Friend!

Do u read mine 2 "Why?, Who is a Poet"

If possible then give your reviews..

Regards,
Lucky

Posted 10 Years Ago



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Added on May 9, 2013
Last Updated on January 16, 2014

Author

Brett Moore
Brett Moore

Dallas, TX



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