I have
This dream.

It’s Halloween
And my friends
Are waiting.

They’re all
Dressed up
And expecting me.

I go
Into this
Closet.

And it’s filled
With all
My childhood
Costumes.

I wade through
A rack
Of bright
Cloaks
And superhero
Capes.

I stumble
On a pair
Of oversized clown shoes---
Knocking them
Over,
And out rolls
A perfectly round
Red clown
Nose.

On a counter
Is a broom stick
And a
Rainbow
Wig.

Hanging
From a hat rack
Are aviator goggles
And multicolored
Beads,
Jingling
Softly.

In the end
I grab a huge
Hoop skirt--
Don’t ask me
Why.

My friend
Laughs
When she sees it--
I offer her
A tentative smile--
And out we go.