a task

in an ordinary suburban house in san jose

i watched my mother daydream 

as she sat in the kitchen before a cup of coffee

& her lit cigarette at rest in the ashtray

then it was time for a nap

i laid down in my bed at midday 

& i made myself really still

i didn't move at all

& i could see the blue early spring california sky 

outside my window in all its perfect proportions

& i set for myself

a task to daydream myself 

to another part of the world

somewhere other than here

but i was stuck in one place

& without the privilege of travel 

i could see the few clouds shift 

in the light wind & i swear

it was at this moment 

i could feel the speed of the earth

as it took my bed in another ordinary

journey around the sun