Dreamlands

I hold no title in the Dreamlands; no lord or master there am I; only a visitor, tourist, or guest; but I know the language a little, and the natives speak with me sometimes, and I listen every chance I get, and write down all I can remember, and repeat what I learn, some of it, which is to be a poet. Come see my souvenirs. These words here, I copied from a scroll of flame, on a high cliff, where light danced along the mountaintops, and the stars stood like warriors arrayed against the dawn. Whenever I reed them, my fingers burn. And these I found in a gem the size of my fist, that glowed pale blue in the night If you breathe them as you sleep, they take you to a cavern cool and deep, where a river shines in the dark its water glows in your cupped hands; and if you drink, it gives clear vision to find your way Here now, these I found written in water on the surface of a sea roiled and stirred by great flukes and seaweed beard and craggy crown and league-long trident sloshing ocean like a narrow tub … … … … ... by great flukes and seaweed beard and craggy crown and league-long trident sloshing ocean like a narrow tub These fragments are left of what I heard to music of pipes playing deep in the woods they faded in the distance but I did not follow I was afraid it would not be me that followed Names shift in the dreamlands shapes and faces flow meanings alter selves blend or fade from some roads there is no returning unchanged Things I did not know before visiting I knew afterward Things I knew for certain before I could never be sure of again People I have met in the Dreamlands what their waking form was I do not know one man dark and brooding another whose brow shone like a star a woman who laughed and sang of love another shy and wistful who turned and ran when I approached … … … … ... Things I did not know before visiting I knew afterward Things I knew for certain before I could never be sure of again People I have met in the Dreamlands what their waking form was I do not know one man dark and brooding another whose brow shone like a star a woman who laughed and sang of love another shy and wistful who turned and ran when I approached Their songs were lovely heartbreaking and pure but upon awaking I did not know their language and could not write them down Sometimes I flew black-feathered swift-winged harsh-voiced to carry messages a favor for a favor strange messages for stranger folk a rock-sprung shining soldier in a cap a one-eyed grey-bearded lord ice-fishers woodsmen and hunters or creatures of clouded shapes never quite the same between instants Sometimes I flew black-feathered swift-winged harsh-voiced to carry messages a favor for a favor strange messages for stranger folk a rock-sprung shining soldier in a cap a one-eyed grey-bearded lord ice-fishers woodsmen and hunters or creatures of clouded shapes never quite the same between instants More happened than I can tell you more than I can tell myself some things cannot be told you must go there yourself There is no passport I can give you no golden needle or graven plate but when you go there heed me watch carefully listen to all you hear and upon awaking write down all you can remember and repeat what you learn some of it More happened than I can tell you more than I can tell myself some things cannot be told you must go there yourself There is no passport I can give you no golden needle or graven plate but when you go there heed me watch carefully listen to all you hear and upon awaking write down all you can remember and repeat what you learn some of it … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …