home again

you awaken
in a stranger's house.
the woman
next to you says
good morning honey,
coffee?
she kisses you
on the cheek.
she is no one that
you know.
children run
into the room
and hop onto
the bed. daddy
daddy, they say,
bouncing in
the sunlight as
it streams in
from the window.
a golden dog
leaps into your lap,
licking
at your face.
he barks loudly,
but this still
doesn't awaken
you from
the dream.
you fall back into
the pillows
and close your eyes.
you fall
asleep. you dream
of silence.
the sound of crickets
chirping
in the cellar.
you are home again.