Dream Life

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Mar 12, 2026

Rebecca Kartchner #37.1

Art by Rebecca Kartchner

Beg for nightmares but

I get dreams conniving

Creep into my head

Infectious thoughts twist

My nerves into knots

Wake to a world lacking

Saccharine sweet

The flat slapping drumbeat

Of my heart, I breathe

Stale airin solid walls

Keep still in bed I

Stall and hope its not

Real, that this is

The dream and soon

I’ll wake to crashing

Shores of subconscious

Let my eyelids flutter

Closed I lie awake