Dreams 2022

Dream 2
(1/2/2022)

I am
cleaning
the bathtub

the bathroom
walls
at my old
house

I have the
shower curtain
liner
in the tub

as I scrub
the tiles
I notice
a movement

a rustling

in the
liner

I separate
the bunched
layers
to find
a small
snapping turtle

the head
seeming
disproportionately
large
for the maybe
3 inch circumference
shell

but the turtle
is still able
retract completely
into its hull
when I near

all I have
at hand
are a soggy
paper cup

a small
wet rag

in order to
catch
the reticent
biting
reptile

and
as it avoids
my attempts
I drop
it
several times

now
I notice blood
and wonder
if flushing
the poor thing
might be
the kinder
option

but finally
I am able
to capture
the squirming
bloody creature
in the cup

~

I find
myself outside
with the dripping
blood-soaked
shower curtain
liner

more blood
for which
a small turtle
might account

it looks
as if
I’ve killed
a person

just as
I am trying
to carefully open
the toter lid
in order
not
to get any
on me

my neighbor
crosses the street
asking how
I am doing

she chats
amiably
away

close
in front
of me

not seeming
to notice
the liner

all
of that
blood

now I
am afraid
of getting
any on
her

but
don’t know
how
to manage
that