It was so vivid and disturbing that
It left me shaken.
In my half-sleep I found myself reworking
The details so that the ending would be
Less painful, and I was finally able to fall
Back to sleep.
When I woke up for good, I thanked
God over and over that my almost
Nightmare had just been a dream.
But it has stuck with me, and
Causes me to wonder.
How did Joseph, Peter, and so
Many others realize their dreams
Held meaning?
How did they know they'd heard from
God?
Why didn't they wake up like I did and
Say, "Whew! I'm glad that was just
A dream"?