Warmth

The still air of the room catches me
     as I jump from my slumber.
The familiarity of my surroundings
     slowly soothes my momentary ignorance,
the sun lightly playing with the dust,
     the bookshelf with the archives of ancient knowledge,
& the pastel flowers delicately arranged on the dresser.
     A flood of warmth breaks over me
like the waves from the past,
     turning, churning my mind.

The fence runs by quicker with my young legs,
     no longer slowed by age.
The tree fort hangs from a secret place
     where we are invisible.
Fireflies whiz past in a dizzying blur of light
     as we chase each other through the field.
But then the lights go out,
     & I cannot see myself
or where I am heading
     I look up as the darkness closes in
and clothes me in a blanket of odd warmth
     just as the stars fall to earth.