One Poem by Emmie Christie

 

Mayfly Dreams

 

Our heads house living things

Dreams born and buried as we sleep

The transition dreams are working class,

They pass so fast we cannot grasp

Them, so they clamour for

Rights to live just as long

As the rich “I can fly” dreams

That ride around in limousines

The nightmares slink like rabid dogs,

A pack of stress and wild fears,

Untamed, they run the streets

And tear apart anything that moves,

Grounding them and chasing them

But never quite catching,

Always just behind.

These visions ride on

Ferris wheels in our heads

Perhaps even we are in

Some giant’s mind -

Mayflies, with just minutes

Left alive.

Emmie Christie’s (Emily Smith) work includes practical subjects, like feminism and mental health, and speculative subjects, like unicorns and affordable healthcare. She has been published in various short story markets including Ghost Orchid Press and Flash Fiction Online, and upcoming poetry in F&SF. She graduated from the Odyssey Writing Workshop in 2013. You can find her at www.emmiechristie.com or on Twitter @EmmieChristie33.