dream walking

from the security of my soft, warm vantage point,

complete with down, tea, reassurance, privilege,

I experience accident after accident

relentless attacks on my body and soul

every night and day.

the crunch and scream of metal, imagined inertia

as the bones, tendons, fibers of my being

bounce against the force of a blow

all too powerful.

snap, crack, pop of the tender, breaking human form

as a step is misstepped

a random act of violence

a freak accident I can no longer escape-

searing, blinding pain of skin or heart

a burn of any sort, emotional, physical

tears through my soul and destroys the sweet comfort i’ve always known

into a life I've only observed.

from the security of my soft, warm vantage point,

my life is consumed by fear

and every moment awake is a nightmare

but when i sleep, all is well. in sleep, I am brave.