Dreaming Poem by Lonnie Hicks

You were high above me
popular;
your family had money.

The girls
chased you
brazenly,

but I thought
just maybe
your eye
caught mine
but could not risk
being wrong
could not face Risk's Rejection.

Maybe it is something
I am imagining..

But it has become my dream;
You and I.
A secret dream
which I cannot share
with anyone
because if I do
people will laugh.

I told my best friend
and she said 'Wow'
Over and over again.
but she had no comment
for me
or encouragement.

I then knew
my Reality Test Score
came back
Negative.

How to dream
if you can't have the dream
you want to dream?

What is the use of dreaming
if what you want in dreaming
is forbidden?

I can hold on to it if I desire
but this becomes the standard
for what is for me desirable.

How to embrace
anyone
or anything less
without it seeming
a Coming Down
from what
my dream
says is best?

'Well, ' my Mom said
'You know you are allowed
more than one dream.

There will be others
and they will be there
for you to work toward;
yours to get.'

And true I did get
more than one dream
and you know dear
I did have a better dream
and that dream is you.