(written about 1994)
I looked outside once-- dreaming
out the window through the shades
from my bed.
And I looked-- dreaming
at a leaf on the top of our tree
and realized
I have looked at that leaf often-- dreaming
and each time it is higher
and I wonder
when will these dreams come true that I dream?
And the tree grows up and up
and the leaf
it comes back every year after spring
having reached further, higher
to the sky.
And when I look at the leaf-- dreaming,
(and I do it often now)
I realize
my dreams get higher, better.
Perhaps someday-- yes, someday-- my dreams
will be my life-- real things
that happened;
still are happening;
I'll look through my window-- remembering
out the window through the shades
from my bed
and see-- the full-grown tree
and the leaf-- so very high
and me-- full-grown,
ready to have these sky-high dreams.
