Lieberman

Borne of fear
Shivering and shaking
With the light of a doorway
Illuminating them from behind
These illusive silhouettes
Have moved into your head
For the evening
Invading your slumber
And your dreamscape
In order to say one word
If you listen closely
Like I did
This is what these creatures utter
"Lieberman"
I don't know why
I don't know who or what Lieberman is
But clear as day
If you listen closely
Like the rustling of leaves in the wind
"Lieberman"

They are strangely like misfit animals
Bears, ducks, tigers, rabbits
But not real animals
But stuffed interpretations
And they are worn
Unique in the hands of a child
Each one
With its very own handicap
Malady or stain
These haunting statues
Don't move
But from some thread
Shaped like a mouth
Come the syllables
Lei Ber Man

My only thought
Is that there must be
One scared child out there
Leading a stuffed toy revolution
Driving nightmares
That come from cracked doorways
Out of his head
His protectors
Have become victimized
Themselves once still and silent
Now shivering little beasts
Forced to speak
In the language of dreams
A fearful prospect
For a good night's sleep
I will seek out this Lieberman
And ask him why
The animals are frightened
Or if there is time
They will be ushered back home
Are they lost?
Have they been hidden?
Are they all from broken homes?
Only dreams talk now
And that will require me to sleep
And listen
--
4.1.08