It’s that time of morning
when you abruptly
feel yourself being pushed
out the door of a dream,
hearing the solid clack of the lock
behind you.

You know the dream-
the one where you’re flying
in a free fall after skydiving
from the moon’s diamond landscape
sacrificing your body to sunset,
and just before you hit the ground

the beautiful stranger
catches you in her arms,
unfolding herself slowly to you
like a flower blooming
in time-lapse photography…

and then without warning
you’re on the doorstep
in the dark morning mist
ringing the bell,
rapping the gilded doorknocker,
frantically searching
your pockets for the key.