I awoke to a grainy black & white

A pale moonlight 

cast vague puppets of shadow

around the canvas of bare walls

All fidgeting like an impatient audience 

From below

I could hear the hollow crackle

of a gramophone 

An old folk song

drifting through time

Serenading &  haunting the ear

I reached out for my wife 

but there was only cold, undisturbed sheets

But, something moved near

whispering soft prickles

upon my skin

A child smothered giggles 

in cupped hands

now long-since decayed 

The song swelled & smothered 

Getting louder, and louder

The shadow puppets flickering & swaying 

like dark flames

The child leaning in

like a winter's chill

Shhh, it whispered 

The song ceased 

       Time ceased

Do not fret, dear Sir

Tis only a fanciful dream…

 

…The world I mean

 

        ***

 

I awoke streaked in sunlight 

My wife standing to stretch

Cuppa? 

I gave a nod and sat up 

For several seconds I sat

It wasn't until I got to my feet

that I realised my fist was clenched

               So tightly 

It burned like the sun-

like the whole universe

 

I forced it open…