Moment of Impact

It is that dream again,
the one where you are falling,
slowly, wonderfully, dreadfully
towards certain death,

watching the earth approach,
a benign murderer,
fascinated with the details
of your ending,

until, at the moment of impact,
you wake,
your body springing from the mattress,
your breath fast and fearful.

It is that dream again,
only tonight you are rising.
There is no fear, only wonder
as the world grows smaller

and the details give way
to sky and earth, until the sun
warms your back,
and you begin to believe in flight,

trusting an eternity you do not pretend to understand,
sending a silent prayer ahead of you,
praying that this time, as the earth falls away,
you never wake.

About this poem

I used to have that dream of flying/falling a lot. I don’t have it any more.

Tom