Fevered Dream

Fate came to me once

in a fever--

her hands smelled of rain and static.

She whispered your name,

and the air went gold.

The walls breathed.

The stars leaned closer, curious.

Somewhere, a clock melted,

pretending not to watch us.

I told her I wasn’t waiting--

but my shadow was.

It curled in the corner, whispering your laugh

to the dust that used to be sunlight.

If you were meant to stay,

I think the universe would hum in your accent,

the rivers would turn toward your hands,

and the moon would admit

she learned her glow from you.

But maybe love isn’t about arrival.

Maybe it’s the fever that lingers

after the dream ends--

a shimmer under the ribs,

a half-remembered vow

still tasting of thunder.

I miss you.

Like a thought I never finished,

like mist left behind

by something that once burned bright.

Sometimes I see you in mirrors

that don’t belong to this world--

the kind where reflections breathe,

and say your name first.

If fate is real,

she’s laughing softly somewhere,

spinning her thread through our sleep,

tying the ends

we can’t see.

And I let her--

because love like this

doesn’t vanish.

It just changes form.

It learns to haunt beautifully.

Author's Note

Sorry, I haven't been online as much. I've just been very sick. I'm still recovering from a flu

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Somewhere a clock melted. There was passion here, the mist left behind remembers it well. Someone is missed. Someone is still loved, even though the dream has ended. Beautifully rendered Roma. Sorry to hear you haven’t been well. A speedy recovery to you. Another fine write from your masterful pen. Lovely references to the natural environment.

Chris

[RomaJ]

Thank you so much, Chris. Your words mean a lot...you read right through the ache and the mist of it. I’m slowly mending, and it helps to know the poem’s heart still reached you. Your kindness and insight always feel like sunlight after rain.

[Chris Shaw]

You are welcome and admired Roma.

[Art Sun]

Feverish, just an exciting and ever flowing thought laid within mystical and reality and dreams all blended together to give one that glow into your very thoughts and emotional expression...

Nice...love it

[Davidgeo]

You are good at writing poetry.

[RomaJ]

I hope so... I have been writing for over 20 years now. I still prefer writing in my diary. Nothing better than real paper and ink

[John the Baptist]

Interesting thought, that maybe love isn't about arrival, but about the fever that lingers after the dream ends. Indeed, some relationships don't end, they are just temporarily interrupted. The last verse develops this thought powerfully.

[RomaJ]

To be honest, I really was sick when I wrote this poem. I had a raging fever and felt like I actually saw the clock melting or maybe, it was just the fever and it was me melting. Your thoughts are lovely and I completely agree with your sentiments

[Michael Sun Bear]

To borrow a couple words, your beautiful poem so burns bright with the pain of loss it hurts to read it; nonetheless I’ve read it through three times, savoring your use of language. My favorite stanza begins with “If you were meant to stay……and the moon would admit she learned her glow from you.” I’ve lived enough life, maybe too much, I oh so know “the fever that lingers after the dream ends” and damn it won’t die out, lingers as smoking embers of pain. The haunting never ends. So well written Roma, going in my Favorites.

[RomaJ]

Michael, your words truly touch me. I can feel the weight of experience in what you’ve shared, and it means a lot that the poem resonated with that truth. That lingering fever.. the one that never quite cools .. is something I think we both understand too well. Thank you for reading and for holding it close. Your kindness and insight always find the quiet heart of a poem.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I really like the clock melting, and the mirrors that don't belong to this world.
I know a love that changed form and it is such a comfort.
nicely phrased all the way through.
j.

[RomaJ]

j...Thank you. I love how you picked up on those lines, they hold the pulse of what I was feeling. It’s comforting to know you understand that kind of love, the kind that never really ends, it just changes form.

[Desert Knave]

"I miss you. Like a thought I never finished" ... Nice ! The entirety of this speaks to me, especially the though of Fate softly laughing at us. Well done. ~Jim

[RomaJ]

Thank you, Jim! I love that you connected with that line..there’s something quietly relentless about Fate’s laughter that lingers long after the moment passes. I’m glad it resonated with you.

[Neville]

Another fine example of exquisite poetry & penned while feeling under the weather too .. gingers crossed you feel better very soon .. Neville 🤞

[RomaJ]

Thank you, Neville! I really appreciate your kind words and good wishes. Hopefully this fever will pack up and leave as gracefully as the words did.

[Soren]

This poem is a blend of great word play (the air went gold, Somewhere a clock melted pretending not to watch us) whether intended or not this gives a good deal of spice to the the read. There is a longing in the message of this poem of missing someone a melancholy and sadness balanced with the hope that love never dies but just changes form. A wonderful panoramic ride

[RomaJ]

Thank you, Soren. I really appreciate how you captured both the melancholy and the lingering hope in the poem. Your words make me feel the ride you described..glad the “spice” came through.

[Soren]

You are most welcome Roma