Between a dream and a nightmare

An oscillating poem

Photo by Stefano Pollio on Unsplash

That’s where I find myself

inside myself

outside myself

when the ball is the light

or the moon is in sight

with sweat or cold

I smile then fold

I hope

or cope

with so many Emmett Tills

and a Dream unfulfilled

with our Kings dead and alive

but Katrina some survived

then Obama gave me hopes

now a Monster gloats and mopes

so I’m steady nowhere

with dare and scare

with gleams

then screams

back, forth, between

a dream

then a nightmare

with both

recurring.

“Between a dream and a nightmare” remembers August 28th.

• On August 28, Emmett Till was murdered. (1955)
• On August 28, Dr. King gave his I Have a Dream speech. (1963)
• On August 28, Mayor Ray…