Ring Tone

A dream when a phone call comes from who knows where

I had a dream last night.
A dream as vivid as the brightest day.
I dreamt I saw a light,
Although it was so far away.

From where I stood, alone,
Dressed in purple flowing robes,
There came the sound, a mournful moan.
Was someone calling? I recognised the tone.

It was my phone. I looked around,
It was nowhere to be seen.
I had no pockets in my gown.
There was no way to intervene.

I slowly walked toward the light,
I saw some people standing still.
I closed the gap, a woman waved with all her might.
I raised my hand and waved, unsure until,

I reached the crowd still waiting there.
The sound still ringing in my head.
The light, much brighter now, made me despair.
Each person held a phone. But they were dead.

This was the tunnel to the afterlife.
I saw my mother, father, amid the many.
The one who’s phoning was my wife.
She’s calling me, my darling, Jenny.

I could still hear the constant tone.
Insisting that someone replies.
I awake, reach, pick up the phone.
It stops. It’s just a dream, I realise.

Line count 28
Written for Out of the fog contest.