I lie falling asleep —
purple Rorschach blobs
forming,
transforming,
& unforming
on the black field of my inner eyelids.

The veneer of reality felt thinner,
but my efforts to poke a finger through
shoved me back into the warm, soft reality of my bed.

[I’d so wanted to “Here’s Johnny!” my way into
an alternate dimension.]

And, once more, I’m a prisoner to reflexes
that snatch away subtle worlds.