Awake As I approach the portal, between consciousness and sleep I smell the romantic aroma of peach mango scented candles The sweet fragrance of burning apple cinnamon incense And intoxicating cherry vanilla perfume, drifting across from the other side When I crossover into dreams I hear serpents and scoundrels, speaking in tongues Sirens singing of carnal delights, for shipwrecked sailors And a seductive symphony of unconscious desires I see bright yellow eyes, glowing in the summer moonlight The reaper and father time playing chess, one of them nearing checkmate The Phoenix rising from the ashes, of forgotten senses And vibrant colors of red, orange, blue, pink, and purple I feel cold hands reaching out from the shadows Warm breath on the back of my neck, my hairs standing on end Smooth velvet skin crawling beneath silk sheets And wet tongues that slither slowly across my chest At an elegant banquet, I dine on the finest ambrosia A flavorful assortment of tastes, with sweet spices and marinades Lobster tails and crab legs, smoked salmon, glazed shrimp, and filet mignon Cooked vegetables, forbidden fruit, cheesecake with caramel, and white wine Across the crowded ballroom, and through a maze of forgettable faces I see a beautiful woman in a black sequined dress She has soft white skin and long auburn hair Red fingernails and a radiant smile, behind crimson lipstick Her eyes are mysterious and mesmerizing The right one is light blue And the left one is dark green Neither seem confined by mortality, or concerned with time After a few moments she notices my transfixed gaze And our eyes meet in a moment of unconscious destiny Then she smiles seductively, and confidently walks towards me As she approaches, I can smell her intoxicating perfume