I waken to a ghoulish tremor
and watch a shadow carcass
spinning in the mists...

"What hollow place has seen your mind
and left its hollow trace?" It asks,
"Or have you crossed
blazing bridges, mounted armies,
smiled at death,
and been your own comet?"

Was that the past, Mephistophelian comic
come in the window, taunting me
for might-have-beens?

What things dreams do
the waking mind cannot,
in finding just that nub of truth
we seek and shun at once.....