Excursus Through Dream
by Mike Klumpp

dwindling
as in a nightmare seen from a distance
spotlit in a sea of black
pinwheel spinning
music

running
up a staircase
running

mother
in her apron
no legs
torso floating
apron like a drape blowing in the wind
an open window
angels outside no longer singing
seeing the night sky beneath her skirt
as she stands
holding a knife
screaming

bedside
brown lady passing
goodbye

i can still hear the scratching of branches on the roof
the creaking of the old house moved by wind and moisture
and palmetto bugs as large as shot glasses
landing on the screens at night

and you wonder why i drink

easy
only time
and passing nightmares
hold my hand
waiting.

Mike Klumpp, dazed and confused, woke one morning to find himself living outside Austin, Texas with a beautiful woman and a house full of cats and children. Inquiring around as to how this had come to pass, Mike was able to piece together this shady synopsis:

Appearantly born in New Orleans, he ran away in the military at 17. Sometime later, he showed up in Lafayette, Louisiana as a college student and actor. There is no clear record of his whereabouts for several years, though he was spotted in Tracy City, Tennessee, Charlotte, North Carolina, Ravensburg, Germany, Dallas, Texas, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Uvalde, Texas. He has worked at everything from deck hand on tow boats on the Mississippi River to  Resident Artistic Director of the Uvalde Grand Opera House. In all he has had 96 different jobs. He will release a book Single Dad's Survival Guide on October 21st published by Random House. If royalties are good, he desires to build a pool and take a nap.