the dream farewell

in your dream
your mother is lying on
a table.
unclothed.
stretched upon a white
linen sheet,
a burial shroud,
you imagine.
you approach her
to grieve, to say
farewell. you lean
in to kiss her when
she opens her eyes.
her hair is black
and full.
her eyes are a rich
brown.
her teeth are perfect,
her face lineless.
she smiles
and says I came
back to say goodbye
to you.
then closes her eyes
to leave once more.