While I Was Sleeping

seems like yesterday I dreamt
the cell door was not closing
on me for the first time…
I slept and while I did
my dreams of the future
vanished

I woke and tried to
remember freedom
remember love
remember touch
remember me?
grasping with
invisible hands
just like you would for
that wonderful scenario
of imagination only
closed eyes find
while dreaming
of falling forever
into my lover’s arms
out of that front gate
away from the past
towards the Sun
and Peace

some dreams are nightmares
like the news of my son
being buried at
the ripe old age
Of 28
or the cold sweat terror of
those USP days
with a dying man
praying for Jesus
as they are stabbed

those things come
and they go less
often now with
24 years alone in
this daylight prison
but still…
and like any soul
who Morpheus claims
I will find freedom tonight
with hope and a sweet
whisper of peace
in my mind’s eye
and dream of
going home