dreamland

[constantine]

three steps down
the door was open
some bar on the west side
i don't know how i got there
but it doesn't matter
dark interior, with a long mirror
that followed you along the bar,
a few patrons, looking downward
lost in their own thoughts
they reminded
me of those paintings
of absinthe drinkers in the montmartre
dissolute, waiting for nothing
sickly light of fever
alcohol and ammonia swimming
a tall black lady with silver-curled hair
followed me towards the back room
she pushed the knife slowly into my side
she pushed forward as i fell backwards
i couldn't get away

[stilltrucking]

hope you are not offended by this but
the first word that came to mind after I read this was

JESUS!

I knew it was going to be bad as soon as I read this

i don't know how i got there

[constantine]

it was a bad dream i had around a month ago. the dream was more sinister. i remember my surprise when i realized i was dying along with the awareness of drifting off. i woke up fast!!

[stilltrucking]

Can you die when you dream?
No; or rather, you're no more likely to die while dreaming than any other time. The rumor that "if you die in your dreams, you'll really die" is completely false. In fact, some "dying" dreams can actually be pleasant; see the following reference for more information:
Barrett, D. (1988). Dreams of death. Omega: Journal of Death & Dying, 19, 95-

I can't see how they can say that is completely false, how could they know that? All we would know is that a person died in their sleep. How could we know what they were dreaming when they died.

I don't remember ever dying in a dream. Like you I usually woke up fast. Or else the dream would shift to a less threatening screnario.

[constantine]

no one alive to tell the tale. ain't that a kick in the head!

[stilltrucking]

we crossed paths while I was editing
a kick in the head yes.

[constantine]

i think that there's been new studies on dreams from people who were near death or approaching a severe illness - a certain commonality of imagery. i'll get back to you on this.