I think I’ll never be satisfied with money⁣⁣
but it’s okay⁣⁣
I’ve made my peace with it, mostly⁣⁣
⁣
I’m a perpetual unravelling of images⁣⁣
from somewhere that passes for yesterday⁣⁣
I climbed a building made of gold⁣⁣
its walls were cash, its stairs were silver⁣ singing⁣
I reached the top and found firecrackers⁣⁣
they burst with the sound of laughter⁣ ringing⁣
as the ground beneath my feet⁣ dissolved ⁣
a waterfall of floors, a downward dreaming⁣
and I jumped into the next building⁣⁣
⁣
You won’t believe it but I woke up⁣⁣
reached instinctively for my phone⁣⁣
and somewhere between one feed and the next⁣⁣
fell back asleep in the same building⁣⁣
⁣
This time I rose faster⁣⁣
and at the top, an owl in a suit⁣, his ears burning⁣
was already burning the firecrackers⁣⁣
He said, ‘the higher you rise⁣⁣
the less you need to carry⁣’⁣
the building fell the same way it always did⁣⁣
and I jumped again⁣⁣
⁣
I looked from my window at a broken building⁣⁣
and saw a skyline I hadn’t noticed before⁣⁣
Smiling, I slept into another building⁣
This time, I let go of the gold on the way up⁣⁣
let go of the silver on the stairs⁣⁣
The owl swam to the top with his matchstick⁣ ready⁣
I shunned him and looked at the view⁣⁣
He flew away without a glance⁣⁣
⁣
I found the matchstick on the ground⁣⁣
lit the firecrackers myself⁣⁣
heard them laughing⁣ ⁣
and let go of myself too⁣⁣
And I woke up again to text you⁣
‘Good morning, I just had the weirdest dream⁣
that I just can’t remember anymore.
I think I’ll never be satisfied with money
But it’s okay, I’ve made my peace with it, mostly,’

Photo by Nikhil Virdi

NaPoWriMo Day 6 Prompt – And now, to put theory in our practice, here’s our optional prompt! This one takes its inspiration from Yentl van Stokkum’s poem, “It’s the Warmest Summer on Record Babe,” which blends casual, almost blasé phrasing with surreal events like getting advice from a bumblebee. In your poem today, try writing with a breezy, conversational tone, while including at least one thing that could only happen in a dream.