Two Dreams

by Cliff Lake

I happened to meet a Master
Napping along the way.
“I have some things to ask, sir.”
To this he made no say.

Then I pestered him with questions,
That I long had thought upon.
But there was no suggestion,
Of any he would dwell on.

I asked him the hardest riddles,
I had chanced on through my years,
But he made me no committal,
Nor gave notice he would hear.

Then I began to notice,
Though with much chagrin,
That with the smallest focus,
I found answers from within.

Slowly he began to stir,
As if he would now speak.
I thought his wrath I did incur,
By way of queried cheek.

But he merely looked at me,
And set me to this task:
“You’ve showered me in fools debris –
What would you really ask?”

He looked full on with blazing eye,
My breath caught in my throat.
But soon my words were raising high,
I said this, and I quote:

“What are we to make of Life,
It seems to have no scheme.
Caught between both ease and strife,
Like some madman’s dream.”

He gave a look sharp as a knife,
Then he turned away.
“Perhaps we only dream a life.”
And more he would not say.

I left him where he sat then,
Pondering his theme.
And though I do not see the end,
I will live out my own dream.

Cliff Lake 12/26/2023
Copyright © Clifford Lake 2023