by Ren Miller, August 2020

I dreamt I ran up the grassy mountain
my body light as a snowflake
my bones hollow as a bird’s

But it was you

You ran up the grassy mountain
across the creek bed
through the laurel tunnel
then up, up
your calves burning
lungs afire
blowing like a stag in the meadow
beneath the moonlight

Then up, up again
to the place where the fire ants nest
where the humans built the tower
with its rickety metal stairs
taking two steps at a time
until you reach the top

Then catching your breath
you look back at me, smiling,
watching me as I dream.