Mister Burly

An old bus stations with wooden departure docks. Wood steps that creak and moan. Walking slowly down the street with a co-worker, talking about things. My feet crunching slowly through the snow. Relevant important subjects. Getting to know someone better.

Strangers sitting in empty room in that bus station again. I’ve been to a place like this before. Like the Arcade in Nashville – like the interior spaces at the Farmers Markets here in St. Louis. But somehow different. Lots more yellow, or sunshine…..but the color is different, somehow….faded like the faded colors of movie flashbacks.

A scary house with enamel cast furniture in England. American-something-or-other style furnishings, very rare – and a long haired lady or man – in long johns walking up the stairs from the basement – making a scary face – his/her hair wet seemingly out of place amidst all the antiques. I think it’s a ghost. This place is haunted and someone will die. A chair’s seat is cast metal hands, a verdigris set of out-stretched palms. Sit here. The fingers will curl around you and hold you down.

An Indian doctor who tells me that it’s all in my head. I can make things better with reflection and thought and he walks through a door that had a big padlock keeping it shut. The door remains unlocked and I walk into a room, a house….a space that I haven’t been in before. Synthesizer against a corner, navy blue sheets on the bed, turquoise shades and sunshine streams through the windows. I look around for a bathroom, but I change my mind.

IMs on laptops. Some sassy lady named Beverly is chatting with me. In her profile, she’s riding a horse and has an outfit that reminds me of an African Joan of Arc. Always read someone’s profile – you’ll find out more than you expected. She has a big pointy stick.

Spring/summer/fall/….lots of sunshine.

Cold in my dream…….and then the stupid cell phone rings…some burly-sounding fella looking for Charlene. Who the hell is Charlene?

I love remembering my dreams, though. Usually I don’t. Mr. Burly might have done me a favor. I remembered a lot this morning.