Periwinkle                            © 2018 Tom Greggs                                                     


I build my house of sleep
The knees embrace
A small flat pillow
A large one to my side


My head's afloat
on memory foam
a red kerchief
over the eyes


All this I wrap in fabric
And wrap again in dark--
The room void of light except
Clock numbers glowing red 


I have become periwinkle 
Larva of the caddisfly
Anchored to the bottom bed
Of a cold mountain creek


I’m encased in stones and bits
Of twig which protect against 
Fast moving dreams that
Seem to stream around me


And the lurking shadows 
—fish of prey—who may wait
Until I’m naked and at the toilet
To strike


In the morning in green water
Changed from blue and slack
I drift up toward the light
To shed my caddis case


And emerge onto land
To stretch wings and dry 
For one day at least till dusk
My metamorphosis complete