I Acted Like A Stranger

Cloud Abstractions in Watercolour

I Acted Like A Stranger

by Kimbra Johnson

You were back in my dream last night
You had two brothers
Among many
Much taller than you 
They had toothy smiles
And were larger than life
You loved them more than yourself

I was embarrassed 
That I acted like a stranger
Because you soon told me
We had met before
They had recognized me
But I didn’t recognize them at all
I hunted through my memory
For signs that I’d been here before
But nothing spoke
Or sounded like me

You embraced me often in the dream
And it felt a lot like home
But new and warm
And firm 
And a little unsure
If you were allowed to consume me
Like that
With yourself

Everyone around us waved
There was a whole culture
And kindness
Born of your face
And you were lonely 
But surrounded
I was always rushing somewhere
Asking for directions
And you were always there

I kept bumping into all these people
That looked less like you
And felt more like parts of you
That you wanted to know
But they got there first
And you were always the quietest
But smiling
Hidden but trying
To belong
To everyone who loved you

And I wished that I remembered
Why they knew me so well
Why there were inside jokes
I was supposed to know
And why they hugged me like family 
Like one of their own

Everyone was happy
And I wanted to know why
All the rooms were white
And there was a feeling 
That there was a world outside
And everyone had heard about it
But never thought to go
Beyond the place they knew
Because everyone was happy
And no one was wanting
Except for me and you

For those who would like to hear this poem read aloud :