Dreams Redreamed

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

The dreams you do not want to dream again

Are damned upon you, over, over, new

But always old, again, again, in pain.

They come as bruises, always blue,

Unhealing blue.  For men they come as welts

As well as bruises, swollen under skin.

They do not heal, but men have hardened pelts.

These help to undercut a hairy sin.

For women dreams come back as viral taunts.

If lucky, women have one lungeing guy

To blame.  But if they blame themselves, then haunts

Of dreams will never leave, will linger, sly.

  Some daydreams can be banned, but nightmares come

    Again, again like Satan with a drum.

~ Phillip Whidden