Vertigo

(Another blast from the past. Wrote this a few years back. A truthful fantasy.)

Once upon a time— a few years ago—
When my world was small and my life a trifle slow,
Someone within, in a voice I didn’t quite know,
Wished in whisper for vertigo.

Soon the whisper was more a wordless scream
And the wish my most recurrent dream.
The voice was slowly, but surely, gaining ground
And ere I knew, it was more than senseless sound.

It was now a message with a vibrant echo
That told a most beautiful tale
And it had a wondrous picture trailing in tow
To show the dream in detail.

A thrilling thought it was, a prospect pristine--
Washed in freedom's sanguine sheen--
Talk of the ocean, terror-trimmed,
And a sparkling sun that never dimmed.

A sickle of fear then sliced through me,
Enquiring if this was destiny,
Or madness profound, as if I cared,
For by now my heart had dreamt and dared.

Lightning flashed, thunder roared,
And in a fervid frenzy I was aboard
A ship that sailed waters high,
On my journey to a land none too nigh.

My bed of flowers was left astray
My shielding canopy was blown away
My psyche was left unclothed
And I felt myself stranded at bay.

It took me some time to see
That my life was no more as it used to be
And that these merciless waters, this listing ship
Were my new home, and my new identity.

Now I live a wanton sailor
In the midst of a hectic dream
The sea is a storm, and I free her
Once awhile with a joyous scream.