The Shine Journal

The Director of Dreams

by

Carole Lynne Reno Brier

The Director of Dreams travels my psyche capturing smidgens of thought, perception, and emotion.  She squirrels away fragments of ideas, impressions, and fleeting sensations during my every waking moment to replay later.

She manipulates memory morsels into visual concepts and streams muted dreams through my mind as I lay sleeping. 
 
I have no alternative but to watch the parade.  
 
The Director of Dreams travels on the ebb and flow of unconsciousness.  Blurry visions presented in pale color and voice.  Intense and brilliant
images sent to haunt me through my day.   
     
Unasked, the Director of Dreams sets the playlist every night. 
 
My sister died thirty years ago.  In our night encounter she hasn’t aged. She is the same, I am older.
 
A nun with a blurry face insists I must repeat an accounting course  I took years ago.

I am a young mother with small children at my feet, again.

My soldier son mows the grass in the back yard dressed in tactical body armor, his M-14 rifle slung over his broad shoulder.  
 
Frantic, I search for my lost child, or car keys, or credit card.  Panic reigns until I wrench awake. 
 
The Director of Dreams enters my awareness on the threads of weariness, and slips into mysterious shadows of intellect on  awakening. 

Motivation:I had a particularly vivid dream a few nights ago. The dreamscape stayed with me all  day. Dreams are so personal, and dreaming so necessary, I decided each of us must have a 'director of dreams'.

Bio: I live in South Carolina about an hour from the ocean.  My degree is in busness administration, I have always loved writing and I'm very pleased that I now have the opportunity to pursue my writing goals.

Image by:Andrew Haarsager