Last Night I Dreamt Poem by Michael Pruchnicki

Last night I dreamt
that I went to the movies-
Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies
on the silver screen in the darkness
of the old Stratford Theater on 63rd-

I sat enthralled as I sailed on wings
of imagination in the grimy movie palace-
I sailed above a second-hand life
of battered furniture in a dingy flat
third floor front on Halsted Street

I sat in the cockpit of a spitfire fighter
riddled by German ack-ack fire
as I guided my crippled bird
through red and black skies-
a tough Chicago kid riding the bird
all shot to hell
with a smile and a quip
on my lips

Though the angel of death
spread its dark wings
I came through on silver wings
of courage

Last night I dreamt again
that I escaped for a few hours
those mean streets
outside the dream palace