The boundaries between mist and light,
time and dreams, seems porous, slight
in memories, thoughts dim, but feelings brighten
not where or when, but why we’re frightened
in the night, death comes close, as senses heightened
to scream beware—
before you vanish from that liminal space
where hours dash, and you wear another’s face
knowing you are you but not, and you forgot
to take a test or you’re lost, or haven’t brought
that thing, you know–or maybe not,
but where
do you go in this maze of a house,
and who is he, surely not your spouse–
but oh, what’s he’s doing feels so good,
and you think you shouldn’t, you wouldn’t, but you would
until they stare,
the people, they’re monsters, with giant teeth
and what is that, behind the door, beneath
the bed, not Grandmom, not husband, or lover,
scary creatures, they grimace, and hover
and you want to escape, or at least take cover—
but you can’t till you wake, relieved the nightmare’s over.
Another bit of Halloween fun. I’m posting this for dVerse’s Open Link Night. We’re live tonight, if you want to join us!
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Merril, you describe these feelings of trepidation and shakiness after a nightmare occurs, even while in the nightmare.
“The boundaries between mist and light,
time and dreams, seems porous, slight”
“but feelings brighten
not where or when, but why we’re frightened
in the night, death comes close, as senses heightened
to scream beware—
before you vanish from that liminal space
where hours dash, and you wear another’s face”
These lines are beautiful and profound. I especially like this one the most:
“before you vanish from that liminal space
where hours dash, and you wear another’s face”
Something about identity and not knowing who you are, or even pretending to be someone else that you’re not, it always intrigues me to see these themes in poems. I love it when I do see them. Quite an astounding piece with very beautiful and evocative descriptions. Dare I say it is nightmarish? 😉
Thank you so much for your very kind and thoughtful comment, Lucy. The opening of the poem came from something I wrote last October. I was looking back at it today, and it made me sad because it was when my mom was still alive, but not really herself anymore. . .so I just took those lines and started writing.
I’m pleased I got to hear you read this twice, Merril. It was such an accurate depiction of a nightmare-and I enjoyed the hint of mischievousness!
Thank you so much, Ingrid! 😀
That’s so like a nightmare, or an anxiety dream, not knowing where you are or why and forgetting everything essential, but not being able to get out of it until you wake.
Sorry I can’t be with you, (tech difficulties and personal shyness). Just remember to plug the book for me, will you? 🙂
Thank you, and sorry you weren’t with us. I had a sort of anxiety dream about a week ago. It was about something else, but then I was with my grandfather, and then I told him I had to go–ran into a theater, and past the person on stage giving one of those pre-theater speeches, and ran back stage. I almost collided with the actor getting ready to go on stage, and I said, “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m here, ” or something like that.
And (gulp), sorry, I forgot to plug the book. Some publicity person I am! 😏
Your anxiety dreams are pretty exciting. Mine are still about exams, not knowing which one, what time, which room, what course. And I always oversleep can’t find my shoes miss the bus etc etc.
Never mind. They all know about ‘the book’, I’m sure 🙂
I do have some pretty amusing dreams. 😀 I’ve had lots of those exam dreams, but not recently. I think more when I was in my twenties and thirties.
It’s strange that I still get them. Far more often than the ones about forgetting the baby on the bus or losing Finbar.
That is funny. I did have one about losing a cat, and that one really upset me!
Something that disturbs me a bit is that lately, I’ve had the most gruesome nightmares about Finbar and the cats with blood, gore, and screaming. But in the dream, I haven’t been disturbed by it.
Oh. That sounds so creepy. I guess only you can figure it out.
It seems as though I’m not upset by pain and suffering in my dreams any more. I don’t like that idea.
I don’t think that’s what it means exactly. Perhaps you are representing the world, which would fit what you often write about. (Of course I have absolutely no training in this field.) 🤣
Animals having a horrible time, you mean? That would figure. And I just look on because there’s nothing I can do. You could be right.
I meant even more than animals, all the terrible things in the world.
Yes, it isn’t just animals, it’s everything. I copy Franz Marc and use animals as metaphor.
I love the poem and enjoyed the reading, Merril – both times! I’ve been having the strangest nightmares lately and your poem really hit the spot. Now I’ve read it for myself, the lines that resonate are the ones that describe confusion brilliantly:
‘where hours dash, and you wear another’s face
knowing you are you but not, and you forgot
to take a test or you’re lost, or haven’t brought
that thing, you know–or maybe not’.
Thanks so much, Kim. I’m often aware that I’m dreaming, and that sense that it’s you but not you, or that it’s someone you know, but they’re different always makes me wonder (and sometimes laugh). Covid dreams are a thing apparently.
The opening lines are tremendous. Not nightmarish for me – but over time, the chill developed. Well done, Merril.
Thank you, Frank. The opening lines came from another poem, and then I went from there–so dreams and dreams that turn into nightmares, I guess. 😀
Still … Very well done!
😀
Nicely done, Merril. This reminded me of a reoccurring dream I used to have about taking a college exam and not having been to class in months. The dream caused so much anxiety. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Jill.
I’ve had that sort of dream, too. 😀
I could almost hear your voice (again) when I read this, M. Every night, My Beloved Sandra and I instruct each other to have sweet dreams. Sweet would be nice these nightmarish days, eh? Well done. Thanks.
Thank you, Ron, for your lovely comment. Covid and the election have many of us dreaming nightmare and anxiety dreams. Sweet dreams to you and Sandra.
You had me swooning at this one, Merril! I love the tone and pacing of this poem and your reading of it added extra depth and meaning to it. 💝 It was a pleasure to attend the Live event with you 😀
Thank you so much, dear Sanaa! I hope you got some sleep finally. 😀 ❤️
I’ll add my two cents’ worth. Love this poem in its breakneck pace to through terrifying trivialities. Like when you see shadows in the dark and scream and then it’s only a tree branch. But so scared! My addition to this is, suddenly I realize I left my purse somewhere like on a park bench or on a shelf at the library and I went away and suddenly I realize it isn’t safe but now I can’t remember how to get back to it. Ooh. Look what you did, I’m shivering!
Thank you, Claudia–and hahahaha.
I know what you mean about the tree branch shadow thing. One time years ago, I was convinced there was someone standing in the room in the dark, and it was only the shadow of my bathrobe. I was frozen with fear though.
I sometimes think I see someone at the end of the hall when I get up in the middle of the night – the same combination of shadows from the neighbor’s outside lights coming in a window. Creeps me every time. Still.
We have vivid imaginations. Even in the daylight, I see things. There’s a little tree stump by the Whitall House in the park. Every single time I walk by it, I think it’s a creature. 🤣
Yes! There is a crouching pig-like animal on the Green Ribbon Trail near me, aka a rotting tree stump. Scares me every time I come around the curve and see it.
😀
I’ve had some of those nightmares. It was like you were inside my head.
Wow–thank you, Liz!
You’re welcome, Merril!
A very beautiful Halloween poem!
Thank you, Luanne!
Well done. I enjoyed hearing you read this today. Very vivid images. Nightmares are common in dreamers!! I had one like that this morning when I tried sleeping a little longer when I should have gotten up.
Thank you, Dwight. I often have very vivid dreams–but thankfully not many nightmares!
Must be that late night snack!! :>)
That’s so true about dreams, going from weird and pleasant to terrifying in a turn. I enjoyed hearing you read your poem tonight 🙂
Thank you very much! 😀
You’re welcome 🙂
Suitably scary-creepy thanks Merril and very evocative of human experience and emotion.
Thank you very much, Susan!
Reblogged this on Reena Saxena.
Fun, perhaps, but also deeply evocative of coming out of a nightmare.
Thank you, Derrick. I’m pleased you thought that.
Just like a dream. Even the ones without monsters somehow have that heightened tension of feeling that it all will disintegrate into chaos. (K)
Yes, so true. Though many times I’m aware I’m dreaming.
I’m not sure I am very often aware inside the dream…it’s that space between dreaming and waking for me I think. And then most times I lose what was there, just left with a feeling.
I am probably most aware when it is getting close to the end of the dream. But I have had some scary dreams that I either changed while dreaming or made myself wake from.
Alan watts said, when you see a ghost, you shoul go into it
Hmm. . . that might really be a nightmare!
Enjoyed hearing you read this at the pub….and most especially, seeing you read it at the pub! I do enjoy these live nights for OLN! Putting faces to the words is so much fun.
These words
“but oh, what’s he’s doing feels so good,
and you think you shouldn’t, you wouldn’t, but you would
until they stare,”
were so scintillating. Ah yes….sometimes we dare in our dreams….even Halloween ones!
Thank you very much, Lillian. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
It is fun to hear the poets read–it often changes how I’d hear a poem in my head. I’m starting to get a bit more comfortable with reading.
So sorry I arrived late to the Meet, doors all locked. Got stuck (wonderfully) in your second stanza and didn’t want to leave. Cheers.
Aww–thank you so much for your delightful comment!
This was delicious (as far as descriptions of nightmares go, of course). Having had my fill of horror this past week, this was the perfect capper. Of course, I’m late but hey!
Thank you very much. I’m pleased to have provided your horror dessert. 😀
You most certainly did!
😀
Beautiful
Thank you.