Recurring

Every day/ a giant tall/ rumbles through the wood,

with heavy feet/ he fells the trees/ crushing those below his knees.

Every day/ my family flees/ like Dorothy’s kin outside,

to shelter found/ beneath the ground/ where we cannot be seized.

Every time/ I am the last,/ my family safe below,

and suddenly/ the giant sees/ me tugging at the metal door.

Every time/ he starts the chase/ I run inside the house.

Every time/ I kneel down/ and hide beneath a chair I've found.

Every time/ he lifts the roof/ and sees me kneeling there.

Every time/ I jump and run/ through the front door, past his lunge.

Every day/ I run and run/ and glancing back, I stumble

Every time/ falling from a cliff/ through the air for time unmeasured.

Every time/ I hit the bed,/ waking in the dark,

my pounding heart/ gives way to tears,/ and yet I feel relief, for years.

Every time/ I think of this dream,

I remember the years of feeling alone,

Both in my dream and there, at home.