you have a dream
that you are
full of arrows
and that someone
is trying to
remove your scalp
with a hatchet.
you are not general
custer, but a lowly
soldier who followed
him into battle
because that is
what soldiers do.
they are loyal despite
the stupidity
of their leaders.
there are lots
of hollering and
whooping in your
dream, and when you
awaken you feel
someone poking you
in the side with a
fountain pen, hey,
hey she says, wake up.
it's just a dream.
you shake your
head and slide
your hand across
your scalp, where
your hair used to be.