Unawares

Angels were gunning him down,
He said, not seeming alarmed,
One of those human moments

When someone you don’t know well
Comes out with a bizarre claim
On the face of it, and you

Feel unsure how to respond.
Is this man hearing voices?
Is this man having you on?

Are you missing some context
That would make ordinary
Sense of what seems like nonsense?

Angels were gunning him down,
He said, adding, in his dreams.
At that you smiled, satisfied.

Anything’s allowed in dreams.
What a nightmare! you told him.
Yes, he sighed, these hateful dreams.

Then he curled over and fell
Without a sound. The dark blood
Pooled around him on the ground.