Sleepwalking
There are too many parts to the story
the sleepwalking itself
as scary as it is
only if on waking
the dream she thought a construct
lodged in her brain
actually occurred
she did really walk out
of the front door, and down
the street, around the corner
another street to the house
of a friend
but the remembering is like a dream
remembered in pieces
if the ground was wet, or hard
if her nightgown kept her warm
her blistered feet
the only physical reality
other than that
only a dream
the coming back
climbing into bed
while everyone else
slept the normal dreamless
sleep, or even regular old
humdrum dreams of taking
a taxi ride with a favorite Aunt
getting green and orange striped
nails then watching fish jump
the regular old dreams we all have
this was one of those
but real
real scratches, real dirt
real blisters
real walking the streets
at night, barefoot
a mother wants to protect
her child from this
would sleep next with arms
around, holding, every night
whispering calm
sensible syllables
songs of peace and love
whatever it took
to anchor her child
to the real bed
a father would sleep
on the floor
on a pallet with his pillow
every night
if he thought this would
be the best place
the safe place
a sister would pull a chair up beside
read a favorite story
maybe “To Kill a Mockingbird”
a story grounded in detail
and real people
a story she has loved
would want to hear
again and again
so never again would her sister
sleep
and her mother's arms would be strong
and her father would rest on the hard floor
to keep her
so she would be safe