“Freedom” © Tybee Maitri

 

Don’t

Don’t touch me when I’m dreaming about space I’ll tell you
when I plan to dream about escaping don’t touch me
when I throw my arms out wide and dream about hurtling through
the clouds the sky the thin edge of the atmosphere
no I know I can’t actually fly into space but don’t touch me
don’t wake me just go sleep on the couch or something

Don’t stop me when I start confessing things in my sleep
but don’t listen to my secrets because I know they come out don’t
touch me when I start talking about running away don’t touch me
when I throw my arms out and start dreaming about space
don’t tell me I’m talking in my sleep again just
grab a pillow and a blanket and go to sleep on the couch.

You might as well get comfortable
I’m going to be this way for a while.

 

Holly Day’s poetry has recently appeared in Analog SF, Cardinal Sins, and New Plains Review Her published books include Music Theory for Dummies and Music Composition for Dummies. She currently teaches classes at The Loft Literary Center in Minnesota, Hugo House in Washington, and The Muse Writers Center in Virginia.

Tybee Maitri is an artist living, healing, and creating in Western North Carolina with their cat Muchini. They studied Studio Art at Simmons University and love learning.