The Writer's Voice
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Another Lifetime
by
Alice C. Bateman
Unusual experience involving all senses
Shoved up through subconscious
No thought-out pretences
I stand in a farmhouse, window to the past
The view of my childhood
Seen clearly at last
The frame is unchanged, fields slightly altered
The view from my fire-dream
Here's where I faltered!
The barn is on fire, a bright smell of fear
The sounds of the animals'
Pain in my ear
Must rescue the horses, first of our new farm
We cannot afford to
Let them come to harm
My husband has gone, on foot, into town
Concerned, I'm with child
And left on my own
Awake from my nap now, was not just a dream
I hear all the horses
Beginning to scream
Down the stairs, to the barn, just finished last fall
If I let it burn down
We could lose them all
I'm frightened, so frightened, flames fill me with terror
But the cries of the horses
Are drawing me nearer
Up the ramp, in the back door, be careful of falls
Can't lose this baby
Let horses from stalls
So smoky, can't breathe, and flames getting hot
Two more stalls, three more horses
I'll save the whole lot
What's happening - don't crush me, get OUT you great beasts
Sweet Jesus, I'm dying
My will I release
My God, all the guilt and the pain he'll acquire
To think me and the baby
Have died in a fire
It's the horses that killed me, in their panic to flee
Don't cry so, my darling
I have been set free
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