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.