another dream

Silver Needle Dream

Last night Henry Clay Street warped

the triplex we lived in

a one eyed new facade.

I pushed a stroller down the pavement.

I and my sister cried watching from the old windows

as our mother went to work.

But by afternoon we hit the street,

running off in opposite directions.

I learned to ride a 2 wheel bike here,

the side walk not so heaved by root

tripping up the stroller wheels.

Many fevers in that house,

my mother sponging my limp body down;

was it measles or chicken pox?

One night the doctor came

with one long silver needle

for my bum.

Pneumonia

the croup machine

the tent;

it all went down in that upstairs room

with the recurring dream of fire.

Who was this child I pushed before me?

I never looked

it made no sound.

1/3 – 1/15/14

mhn