Dream Or Dead. Poem by Terry Collett

O look at that man,
she said,
look at that

kind of brings
it all home to you
don't it

kind of makes me
want to cry
the utter darkness of it

and I guess
he wants me
but at what price

and mother said
have to be aware
of men like that

and I was
well sort of
looking out for them

but you never know
what will turn up
what kind will

come from under a stone
crab like make its
way towards you

and I said
look Honey
I'm not that

kind of guy
but I guess they
are out there out there

waiting to pounce
on women
and she said

don't it make you
want to spit
when there's that

kind of feller
out there waiting
and I said

don't worry
about them now
you have me

and she sort of
calmed down
and put away

the magazine
and stared at me
and said

can I have
that drink now?
Sure

I said
and poured her
a glass of booze

and she drank it down
and closed her eyes
and I woke up

and the room
was empty
as was my head

and she was not
or a dream
or dead.