His bladder signalled first,
A commonplace request
Accompanied by thirst.
He looked outside. The west
Looked back with changing weather.
Then in his mind he heard,
Repeated, last night’s word,
That changed his life forever.

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This article originally appeared in The New Criterion, Volume 5 Number 10, on page 33
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https://newcriterion.com/issues/1987/6/waking-the-next-morning