Dreams Bite
–Audre Lorde

I

Dreams bite.
The dreamer and his legends
arm at the edge of purpose.

Waking
I see the people of winter
put off their masks
to stain the earth red with blood
while
on the outer edges of sleep
the people of sun
are carving
their own children
into monuments
of war.

II

When I am absolute
at once
with the black earth
fire
I make
my nows
and power is spoken
peace
at rest and
hungry means never
or alone
I shall love
again

When I am obsolete.