ELAINE'S DREAM.

A GIRL DREAMS OF HERSELF AND A BOY NAMED JOHN IN 1962

Elaine dreamed of herself
and the boy John.

Elaine dreamed
she was in a field
of long grass
with a cornflower
blue sky and white
cotton wool clouds.

The Elaine in her dream
was lying on her back;
her hands across her stomach,
eyes on John at her side.

He was talking of butterflies
or birds or bird's eggs.

She wasn't listening;
she was studying the sky,
and cloud movement,
feeling shy.

She turned in her sleep;
pulled the pillow
close to her face.

The John in the dream
put his hand up
inside her skirt;
he said he was looking
for her butterfly;
the Elaine in her dream
said nothing;
the Elaine smiled.

The hand became fingers
or a finger and entered her.

She turned over in her sleep
and lay on her back.

She sensed him there
a feeling of opening up
and needing to pee.

Alarmed she awoke;
the moon was in
the corner of her window
giving out a bright glow.

Why didn't the Elaine
in her dream
say something
not just lay there
she wanted to know.

Reviews

[ANTO]

I felt this was a coming of age poem about Elaine who I felt from this, wasn't sure if she was going to be able to be a 'woman' (whatever that means).
Its very thought-provoking Terry.

[Terry Collett]

Thank you, ANTO. Yes, Elaine about 14 at the time had an inner conflict with herself.