was it then that you and i 
forgot who we were together  
and amongst the crying and the laughing 
i found you dying, your heart on fire 
smoke rose from your wound 
and i, aghast, stood and stared 
and pondered whether it was too soon 
for your time had not come yet 
here you were, writhing on the floor 

 

the house, tall and magnificent  
with columns of white and gold 
and a door to heaven i’ve been told 
windows locked, hatches battened down 
stairs to nowhere and everywhere  
and lights swaying alone 
as if some ghost, perhaps him, 
pushing them to and fro 
dimly lit, yet not too dim 

 

all things considered, do dreamers really dream 
or do they only think they do, 
seeing what they see? 

 

do the trees really whisper 
of things long forgotten  
like the love we shared and treasured  
our wedding unbegotten  
the bells did not sound 
their songs of jubilee 
the birds did not sing 
any of their melodies 

 

when the water filled your lungs 
and you sank beneath the waves 
the current pulled you in 
and a question hit your face 
“was it really worth it?” 
perhaps yes, perhaps no 
and now you’ll never know 
for you’re dead, just like me 
and we’re dead together 

 

we tell no lies 
and no lies be told 
you’re no good at that 
it’s all in your eyes 
you can’t tell a lie 
and neither can i 
yet we speak not the truth 
or something far from it 

 

all things considered, do dreamers really dream 
or do they only think they do, 
seeing what they see? 

 

so here we are, a standoff of sorts 
a gun pointed at my head 
and bomb ready to blow 
the words don’t come out 
i mumble things instead  
indiscernible from the rest 
drool dripping from my lips 
a smile stretching across my face 

a laugh, a tear, a straining test 

someday you’ll see 

that dreamers live only 

in forgotten memories 

 

all things considered, do dreamers really dream 

or do they only think they do, 

seeing what they see?