,,*APT] ,I

,PICTURES6 ,PICTURES6 ,PICTURES6 ,(T51
  2F ,I LE>N$1
DID ,I WOND] :;E CAME ! MULTITUDES (
  PICTURES
T ?R;G$ MY DR1MS2 = !Y 7 PICTURES !
L ( : ,I _H N"E SE5 9 R1L WAKE-A-"D
  LIFE4
,!Y TOR;T$ MY *ILDHOOD1 MAK+ ( MY DR1MS
  A
PROCES.N ( NI<TM>ES &A LL LAT] 3V9C+
ME T ,I 0 DI6]5T F MY K9D1 A CR1TURE
UNNATURAL & A3URS$4










,9 MY "DS ONLY DID ,I ATTA9 ANY M1SURE (
  HAPPI;S4
,MY NI<TS M>K$ ! REIGN ( FE>--& S* FE>6
  ,I
MAKE BOLD 6/ATE T NO MAN ( ALL ! M5 :O
  WALK
! E>? ) ME "E SU6] FE> ( L K9D &
DEGREE4 ,= MY FE> IS ! FE> ( L;G AGO1 !
  FE>
T 0 RAMPANT 9 ! ,"Y] ,_W1 & 9 ! Y\?
(! ,"Y] ,_W4 ,9 %ORT1 ! FE> T REIGN$
SUPREME 9 T P]IOD "KN Z ! ,MID-
  ,PLEI/OC5E4

,:AT D ,I M1N8 ,I SEE EXPLAN,N IS NEC 2F
  ,I
C TELL Y (! SUB/.E ( MY DR1MS4 ,O!RWISE1
LL CD Y "K (! M1N+ (! ?+S ,I
"K S WELL4 ,Z ,I WRITE ?1 ALL ! 2+S &
HAPP5+S ( T O!R _W RISE UP 2F ME 9
VA/ PHANTASMAGORIA1 & ,I "K T 6Y !Y WD
2 RHYME.S & R1SON.S4



,:AT 6Y ! FR%IP ( ,LOP-,E>1 ! W>M LURE (
! ,SWIFT ,"O1 ! LU/ &! ATAVISM ( ,R$-
  ,EYE8 ,A
SCR1M+ 9COH];E & NO M4 ,&A SCR1M+
9COH];E1 LIKEWISE1 ! DO+S (! ,FIRE ,P
&! ,TREE ,P1 &! GI2]+ C\NCILS (!
HORDE4 ,= Y "K N ! P1CE (! COOL CAVES 9
! CLI6S1 ! CIRCUS (! DR9K+-PLACES AT !
5D (! "D4 ,Y H N"E FELT ! BITE (!
MORN+ W9D 9 ! TREE-TOPS1 NOR IS ! TA/E (
"Y B>K SWEET 9 YR M\?4














,X WD 2 BETT]1 ,I D>E SAY1 = Y 6MAKE YR
APPROA*1 Z ,I MADE M9E1 "? MY *ILDHOOD4
  ,Z A
BOY ,I 0 V L O!R BOYS--IN MY WAK+ H\RS4
  ,X
0 9 MY SLEEP T ,I 0 DI6]5T4 ,F MY E>LIE/
RECOLLEC;N MY SLEEP 0 A P]IOD ( T]ROR4
  ,R>ELY
7 MY DR1MS T9CTUR$ ) HAPPI;S4 ,Z A RULE1
!Y 7 /U6$ ) FE>--&)A FE> S /RANGE
& ALI5 T X _H NO POND]A# QUAL;Y4 ,NO FE>
T ,I EXP]I;ED 9 MY WAK+ LIFE RESEM#D !
  FE>
T POSSESS$ ME 9 MY SLEEP4 ,X 0 (A QUAL;Y
  &
K9D T TRANSC5D$ ALL MY EXP]I;ES4









,= 9/.E1 ,I 0 A C;Y BOY1 A C;Y *1 R1
6:OM ! C.TRY 0 AN UNEXPLOR$ DOMA94 ,YET
  ,I
N"E DR1M$ ( CITIES2 NOR DID A H\SE "E
  O3UR 9
ANY ( MY DR1MS4 ,NOR1 = T MATT]1 DID ANY
  ( MY
HUMAN K9D "E BR1K "? ! WALL ( MY SLEEP4
  ,I1
:O _H SE5 TREES ONLY 9 P>KS & ILLU/RAT$
  BOOKS1
W&]$ 9 MY SLEEP "? 9T]M9A# =E/S4 ,&
FUR!R1 ^! DR1M TREES 7 N A M]E BLUR ON
  MY
VI.N4 ,!Y 7 %>P & 4T9CT4 ,I 0 ON T]MS
( PRACTIS$ 9TIMACY ) !M4 ,I SAW E BRAN*
& TWIG2 ,I SAW & KNEW E DI6]5T L1F4








,WELL D ,I REMEMB] ! F/ "T 9 MY WAK+
  LIFE
T ,I SAW AN OAK TREE4 ,Z ,I LOOK$ AT !
  L1VES &
BRAN*ES & GN>LS1 X CAME 6ME ) 4TRESS+
VIVID;S T ,I _H SE5 T SAME K9D ( TREE _M
& C.T.S "TS ;N MY SLEEP4 ,S ,I 0 N
SURPRIS$1 / LAT] ON 9 MY LIFE1
  6RECOGNIZE
9/ANTLY1 ! F/ "T ,I SAW !M1 TREES S* Z !
SPRUCE1 ! YEW1 ! BIR*1 &! LAUREL4 ,I _H
  SE5
!M ALL 2F1 & 0 SEE+ !M EV5 !N1 E
NI<T1 9 MY SLEEP4











,?1 Z Y H ALR 4C]N$1 VIOLATES ! F/
LAW ( DR1M+1 "NLY1 T 9 "O'S DR1MS "O
  SEES
ONLY :AT HE HAS SE5 9 8 WAK+ LIFE1 OR
-B9,NS (! ?+S HE HAS SE5 9 8 WAK+
LIFE4 ,B ALL MY DR1MS VIOLAT$ ? LAW4 ,9
  MY
DR1MS ,I N"E SAW ,,ANY?+ ( : ,I _H K 9
MY WAK+ LIFE4 ,MY DR1M LIFE & MY WAK+
  LIFE 7
LIVES A"P1 ) N "O ?+ 9 -MON SAVE MYF4
,I 0 ! 3NECT+ L9K T "SH[ LIV$ BO?
LIVES4

,E>LY 9 MY *ILDHOOD ,I LE>N$ T NUTS CAME
  F !
GROC]1 B]RIES F ! FRUIT MAN2 B 2F "E
T K 0 M9E1 9 MY DR1MS ,I PICK$ NUTS
F TREES1 OR GA!R$ !M & ATE !M F !
GR.D "UN1? TREES1 & 9 ! SAME WAY ,I ATE
B]RIES F V9ES & BU%ES4 ,? 0 2Y ANY
EXP]I;E ( M9E4



,I % N"E =GET ! F/ "T ,I SAW BLUEB]RIES
S]V$ ON ! TA#4 ,I _H N"E SE5 BLUEB]RIES
2F1 & YET1 AT ! SI<T ( !M1 "! L1P$ UP
9 MY M9D MEMORIES ( DR1MS ":9 ,I _H W&]$
"? SWAMPY L& EAT+ MY FILL ( !M4 ,MY "M
SET 2F ME A DI% (! B]RIES4 ,I FILL$ MY

SPOON1 B 2F ,I RAIS$ X 6MY M\? ,I KNEW J
H[ !Y WD TA/E4 ,NOR 0 ,I 4APPO9T$4 ,X 0
! SAME TANG T ,I _H TA/$ A ?\S& "TS 9 MY
SLEEP4














,SNAKES8 ,L;G 2F ,I _H HE>D (! EXI/;E (
SNAKES1 ,I 0 TOR;T$ 0!M 9 MY SLEEP4 ,!Y
LURK$ = ME 9 ! =E/ GLADES2 L1P$ UP1
/RIK+1 "U MY FEET2 SQUIRM$ (F "? ! DRY
GRASS OR ACR NAK$ PAT*ES ( ROCK2 OR
  PURSU$ ME
96! TREE-TOPS1 5CIRCL+ ! TRUNKS ) _!
GRT %9+ BODIES1 DRIV+ ME HI<] & HI<] OR
F>!R & F>!R \ ON SWAY+ & CRACKL+
BRAN*ES1 ! GR.D A DIZZY 4T.E 2N ME4
,SNAKES6--) _! =K$ T;GUES1 _! B1DY EYES
& GLITT]+ SCALES1 _! HISS+ & _!
RATTL+--DID ,I N ALR "K !M F> TOO WELL
  ON
T "D ( MY F/ CIRCUS :5 ,I SAW !
SNAKE-*>M] LIFT !M UP8

,!Y 7 OLD FRS ( M9E1 5EMIES R1 T
PEOPL$ MY NI<TS ) FE>4






,AH1 ^? 5D.S =E/S1 & _! HORROR-HAUNT$
GLOOM6 ,= :AT ET]NITIES H ,I W&]$ "?
!M1 A TIMID1 HUNT$ CR1TURE1 />T+ AT !
  L1/
S.D1 F"R5$ ( MY [N %AD[1 KEY$-UP1 "E
AL]T & VIGILANT1 R1DY ON ! 9/ANT 6DA%
  AWAY
9 MAD FLI<T = MY LIFE4 ,= ,I 0 ! PREY (
  ALL
MANN] ( FI]CE LIFE T DWELT 9 ! =E/1 & X
0 9 EC/ASIES ( FE> T ,I FL$ 2F ! HUNT+
MON/]S4













,:5 ,I 0 FIVE YE>S OLD ,I W5T 6MY F/
  CIRCUS4 ,I
CAME HOME F X SICK--B N F P1NUTS & P9K
LEMONADE4 ,LET ME TELL Y4 ,Z WE 5T]$ !
  ANIMAL
T5T1 A HO>SE RO>+ %OOK ! AIR4 ,I TORE MY
  H&
LOOSE F MY "F'S & DA%$ WILDLY BACK "?
! 5TR.E4 ,I COLLID$ ) P1 FELL D[N2 &
ALL ! "T ,I 0 SCR1M+ ) T]ROR4 ,MY "F
CAU<T ME & SOO!D ME4 ,HE PO9T$ 6! CR[D (
P1 ALL C>E.S (! RO>+1 & *E]$ ME
) ASSUR.ES ( SAFETY4












,N"E!.S1 X 0 9 FE> & TREMBL+1 &)
M* 5C\RAGE;T ON 8 "P1 T ,I AT LA/
APPROA*$ ! LION'S CAGE4 ,AH1 ,I KNEW HM
  ON !
9/ANT4 ,! B1/6 ,! T]RI# "O6 ,& ON MY 9N]
VI.N FLA%$ ! MEMORIES ( MY DR1MS1--!
  MID"D
SUN %9+ ON TALL GRASS1 ! WILD BULL GRAZ+
QUIETLY1 ! SU45 "P+ (! GRASS 2F !
SWIFT RU% (! TAWNY "O1 8 L1P 6! BULL'S
BACK1 ! CRA%+ &! BELL[+1 &! CRUN*
CRUN* ( B"OS2 OR AG1 ! COOL QUIET (!
WAT]-HOLE1 ! WILD HORSE UP 6HIS KNEES &
  DR9K+
S(TLY1 & !N ! TAWNY "O--ALW ! TAWNY
  "O6--
! L1P1 ! SCR1M+ &! SPLA%+ (! HORSE1
&! CRUN* CRUN* ( B"OS2 & YET AG1 !
SOMBRE TWILI<T &! SAD SIL;E (! 5D ( "D1
& !N ! GRT FULL-?ROAT$ RO>1 SU451 L A
TRUMP ( DOOM1 & SWIFT ^U X ! 9SANE
  %RIEK+
& *ATT]+ AM;G ! TREES1 & ,I1 TOO1 AM
TREMBL+ ) FE> & AM "O (! _M %RIEK+
& *ATT]+ AM;G ! TREES4
,AT ! SI<T ( HM1 HELP.S1 )9 ! B>S ( 8
CAGE1 ,I 2CAME 5RAG$4 ,I GRITT$ MY TEE?
  AT HM1
D.ED UP & D[N1 SCR1M+ AN 9COH]5T MOCK]Y
  &
MAK+ ANTIC FACES4 ,HE RESPOND$1 RU%+ AG/
  !
B>S & RO>+ BACK AT ME 8 IMPOT5T WRA?4
  ,AH1 HE
KNEW ME1 TOO1 &! S.DS ,I MADE 7 ! S.DS (
OLD "T & 9TELLIGI# 6HM4

,MY P>5TS 7 F"R5$4 8,! * IS ILL10 SD
MY "M4 8,HE IS HY/]ICAL10 SD MY "F4 ,I
  N"E
TOLD !M1 & !Y N"E KNEW4 ,ALR _H ,I
DEVELOP$ RETIC;E 3C]N+ ? QUAL;Y ( M9E1
? SEMI-4ASSOCI,N ( P]SONAL;Y Z ,I ?9K ,I
  AM
JU/IFI$ 9 CALL+ X4





,I SAW ! SNAKE-*>M]1 & NO M (! CIRCUS
  DID
,I SEE T NI<T4 ,I 0 TAK5 HOME1 N]V\S &
OV]WR"\1 SICK )! 9VA.N ( MY R1L LIFE BY
T O!R LIFE ( MY DR1MS4

,I H M5;N$ MY RETIC;E4 ,ONLY ONCE DID ,I
  3FIDE
! /RANGE;S ( X ALL 6ANO!R4 ,HE 0 A BOY--
  MY
*UM2 & WE 7 EI<T YE>S OLD4 ,F MY DR1MS
  ,I
RECON/RUCT$ = HM PICTURES ( T VANI%$ _W
9 : ,I D 2LIEVE ,I ONCE LIV$4 ,I TOLD HM
  (!
T]RORS ( T E>LY "T1 ( ,LOP-,E> &! PRANKS
WE PLAY$1 (! GI2]+ C\NCILS1 &(! ,FIRE
,P & _! SQUATT+ PLACES4







,HE LAU<$ AT ME1 & JE]$1 & TOLD ME TALES
  (
<O/S &(! D1D T WALK AT NI<T4 ,B MO/LY
DID HE LAU< AT MY FEE# FANCY4 ,I TOLD HM
  M1 &
HE LAU<$ ! H>D]4 ,I SWORE 9 ALL E>NE/;S
  T
^! ?+S 7 S1 & HE 2GAN 6LOOK ^U ME
QUE]LY4 ,AL1 HE GAVE AMAZ+ G>BL+S ( MY
  TALES

6\R PLAYMATES1 UNTIL ALL 2GAN 6LOOK ^U
  ME
QUE]LY4

,X 0 A BITT] EXP]I;E1 B ,I LE>N$ MY
  LESSON4 ,I
0 DI6]5T F MY K9D4 ,I 0 ABNORMAL )
"S?+ !Y CD N "U/&1 &! TELL+ (
: WD CAUSE ONLY MIS"U/&+4 ,:5 !
/ORIES ( <O/S & GOBL9S W5T >.D1 ,I KEPT
QUIET4 ,I SMIL$ GRIMLY 6MYF4 ,I ?"\ ( MY
NI<TS ( FE>1 & KNEW T M9E 7 ! R1L
?+S--R1L Z LIFE XF1 N ATT5UAT$ VAPORS &
SURMIS$ %AD[S4
,= ME NO T]RORS RESID$ 9 ! ?"\ (
  BUGABOOS
& WICK$ OGRES4 ,! FALL "? L1FY BRAN*ES &
! DIZZY HEI<TS2 ! SNAKES T /RUCK AT ME Z
  ,I
DODG$ & L1P$ AWAY 9 *ATT]+ FLI<T2 ! WILD
DOGS T HUNT$ ME ACR ! OP5 SPACES 6!
TIMB]--^! 7 T]RORS 3CRETE & ACTUAL1
HAPP5+S & N IMAG9+S1 ?+S (! LIV+
FLE% &( SW1T & BLOOD4 ,OGRES & BUGABOOS
  & ,I
_H BE5 HAPPY B$-FELL[S1 -P>$ ) ^! T]RORS
T MADE _! B$ ) ME "?\T MY *ILDHOOD1
& T / B$ ) ME1 N[1 Z ,I WRITE ?1 FULL
( YE>S4