Amelita came to me in a dream.

She was going to move

to Oahu.

She said she could drive those

super-highways.

I thought it was a risky move.

 

She lost everything in the fire.

Like so many others I loved.

Just the clothes on her back.

Last I heard

she was being shuffled around.

But she had shelter

and food.

and a job if she can get to it.

 

In my dream she was moving to Oahu.

Like so many others.

Lahaina a nightmare,

they would rather forget.

Mysterry has a place now.

And Dorie got to go shopping

on the community’s dime.

She is safe

in a condo with family.

Carole isn’t anything.

She lost her life.

I try not to think of her

last few minutes.

But the vision is there

when I am drifting into sleep.

It wakes me up, shaking

every time.

I dreamed Amelita is moving

to Oahu

to start over.

Her gleam had returned.

The one she had when she laughed.

Sorely missing the last time I saw her.

Tim is safe.

Peg won’t rebuild

she is moving to California

Closer to family I guess.

I don’t blame her.

Ellen was in Australia.

Missed the whole thing.

But lost it all anyway.

She will stay there

for six months

to figure out what to do.

I dreamed Amelita was moving

to Oahu.

A foolish dream.

It would be too much for her.

Cathy and her enormous family

made it out of Hawaiian homes.

Thank God.

 

There is a list of hundreds,

unaccounted for.

I scan the list, no one left

I know. Finally.

 

But the list of those lost

have become my friends,

my worries too.

Even though I don’t know them.

I dreamed Amelita is moving

to Oahu.

 

Lahaina is gone. Gone.

The store that was such a part of my life

now ash and mangled metal.

 

At least they are okay. Poets

Friends, employees.

Everyone safe but Carole.

 

I dreamed Amelita is moving

to Oahu.

I hope her broken heart

is healed again.

Somehow, someway.