the weight

i saw
a woman who could only look
sideways
talk
sideways,
and a man who could only look
down
(i don't know how he talked,
i didn't hear him)
all in the same day.

i dreamt of my father's death again,
was it only last week i had that dream?
i was trying to comfort my mother
who was inconsolable in her grief.
she was wearing a mod jacket with fur cuffs
from jc penney.

my dreaming self
reached out and admired the jacket
before i woke up, panicky,
only to realize
i've had this dream before.