Marianne Gambaro’s poems and essays have been published in several print and online journals. She is the author of “Do NOT Stop for Hitchhikers” (Finishing Line Press). A member of Florence (MA) Poets Society, she serves on the editorial team for Silkworm. She lives in Belchertown (Hampshire County). https://margampoetry.wordpress.com/
Last Night
I dreamt
of triple generation Sunday family dinners
tables sagging beneath the weight of food
I did not dream
of the drone-eye-view of refrigerated semis
I saw on the 11 o’clock news
I dreamt
of health care workers and first responders
home with spouses and families
I did not dream
of Skype or Zoom or virtual meetups
where loved ones say their final goodbyes
I dreamt
of rabbits cavorting in fields and
penguins gliding down ice floes
I did not dream
of the masks they decorate that I ordered
from the woman who used to make dog bandanas
I dreamt
I brought my reusable bags to the grocery store
in one woman’s quest to save the planet
I did not dream
of being at the store by 6 to vie for toilet paper,
self-service salad bar bare gleaming steel
I dreamt
the new primary colored playground by the school
was resplendent with wriggling giggling children
I did not dream
of disembodied teachers on screens as
parents scramble to recall math skills
I dreamt
we were on a train to Broadway to see Hamilton
and dine at our favorite Trattoria afterwards
I did not dream
of New York’s cavernous streets and restaurants
whose only patrons are chairs inverted on their tables
Last night
I dreamt
I once again sat in Panera writing this poem next to
a steaming mug of black tea and butter-drenched asiago bagel
I did not dream
I sat here at my desk alone save for the gray cat
next to my computer who keeps pushing “return”