Sunstroke

You walked barefoot through burning sand
to claim your revelation, but it turned to dust
in your hands. You staggered home, sun-struck
and revelation ambushed you at your front door
in the shape of a red dog with armored sides
and steel teeth. It savaged you.
You fell on the sidewalk and writhed like a snake-handler
babbling Truths ineluctable, incomprehensible, debatable*--
while the sky filled up with thunder and hailstones rained down
and a dragon made up entirely of used auto parts
clattered the length of the street like a crash-landing helicopter!

After they took you away, the neighbors
gathered in the street to gossip and shake their heads
but none of them could explain
the gouges in the pavement.

* Thanks to John Brunner


Collection available! Knocking from Inside