Reality is a Substitute

Jenni Meredith

A soft rain soothes the pane; rubbing
cold gold beads along its cheek.
Under the street lamp that interrogates

our dreams, the winter tree, spreading
spiky fingers, catches this urban bling.
Illuminated raindrops are my stars,

passing cars my comets. And the rush
of rubber on wet tarmac,
fills my mind with southern seas.