Caleb Nolen

Waking Dream

Birds, bickering in the grass outside,
bring me back to afternoon before I’m ready.
A breeze through the screen
and beside the house across the street
a maple spreads through unmarred blue;
the sound of its silver leaves like paper slowly
crumpling. On the wall behind me
a clock ticks. I am sure that as soon as I turn
I will do something so beautiful,
everyone will understand why I get to live.