The Poem Thief

Last night I went to sleep 
with words of beauty in my head
they floated on a yawn 
as I laid myself to bed.
This morning all I know is 
they were there but now they're gone.

I knew I should have caught them
as they drifted in and out
of my waking and my dreams,
as they fluttered all about
in their tantalizing way,
underneath the moon's soft beams.

Now I search in all the corners
of my cluttered up old brain
throwing memories around
like I'm going quite insane
for I know the words were magical
if they only could be found!

I brush away the cobwebs
and stir up clouds of dust
as I rummage through the darkness,
digging through the upper crust,
for last evening's truant thoughts
must be somewhere in this mess!

Then I catch a fleeting glimpse
from the corner of my eye
they are dangling from a thread
held by a pesky little guy!
The annoying little poem thief
is running rampant in my head!

I catch a word, I grab for two
then he pulls the thread away
and he laughs in great delight
for he thinks it's all in play
and then he's gone, and I'm left wishing 
that I'd written them last night!




april 2004
© Janet Reid