Tori Dreamer

A mother’s arms
wrapped tightly around this little body
Tears subside and eventually morph
into the rhythmic breathing of a child
once again at peace

As she places him gently on his bed
Her own tears fall unannounced
She sits for a moment
Crying silently
Knowing his safety won’t always lie in her hands

Tori Burris Inkley
4/5/26

I stare into her face
and wonder if we’re still friends
We’ve known each other a lifetime
Grown up together
Laughed and cried together
But sometimes when I lean in
and I look into her eyes
I barely recognize her as someone I was ever close to

Tethered together always on this journey
But are we still friends?
We’re older (I refuse to say “old”)
Hair is grey
Face is lined from years of laughing
… and crying

I can’t escape her
and I so try to love her
But are we still friends?
And does she feel the same?
Does she recognize me?
Or even want to see me anymore?

We still spend time together each day
Although the moments are brief
Sandwiched between obligations and exhaustion
We used to sit together for hours
Smiling, laughing, thinking about our future
We would role play
and put on makeup
Brush hair
and practice being “grown up”
… until we were

And now I wonder as I look at her
Are we still friends?

Tori Burris Inkley
4/4/26

Windows
Doors
Homes
         … to spring

Hearts
Minds
Eyes
         … to humanity

Tori Burris Inkley
4/3/26

Fasting 
Blasting
Hurried
Scurried
Just no time for being worried

Sprinting
Printing 
Typing
Piping
Can’t stop now, I’m over-hyping

Running
Gunning
Pacing
Racing
Quickly please, no need for tracing

Writing
Fighting
Ranking
Planking
In a rush, forget the thanking

Beating
Fleeting
Shopping
Hopping
Day is done, and now I’m dropping

Tori Burris Inkley
4/2/26

Do you ever grow weary of always being “on”?
Always shining bright?
Always bringing warmth to others?

Do you ever wish you could play at night?
Dance under the stars?
Laugh with friends by the glow of a fire?

Do you ever want to close your eyes?
Just take a break?
Sleep on pillows as soft as clouds?

Or have you accepted your fate?
Your past, present, future
Painted on that glow
That we see each day…
Unless the clouds decide to hold you prisoner

Tori Burris Inkley
4/1/26

Some semblance of humanity is waiting there
Nestled, warm and snug inside its shell
Floating in the before
Unaware of its future
Unacknowledging of its past

The day will come when it will emerge
Revealing to the world its existence
Its true nature
Its heart
Its being

For everyone
I pray it’s not too late.

Tori Burris Inkley
4/1/26

Who are these people that I once knew…

Who raise a cross
To suffering and loss
At the tiny hands
Of a “mafia boss”

Whose rainbow colors
Are white and whiter
Who mistake a bully
For an actual fighter

Who bend a knee
To the golden cow
But refuse to see
The here and now

Who claim to support 
The greater good
Then hide beneath
An invisible hood

Who preach and post
While holding a book
But can’t be bothered
To take a look
At the sins of a man
Who proudly boasts 
From a Golden House
While playing host
Shouting madness 
Near and far
(“I’m ending wars!”)
(“Bad girl in car!”)

Who stand behind
Police cosplay
“Turn off your phone!”
“Do what I say!”
“I wear a mask,
You must obey!”

Who choose to see
Through filtered eyes
And can’t discern 
The truth from lies

Who fall in line
Yet say they’re free
Same as
Deutschland ‘33

Who quickly send
A prayer and thought
But refuse to learn
The lessons taught
On slavery, fascism,
Defying the crown
None of it matters
If your skin is brown

Who seem unable
To follow the money
And become outraged
At a really Good Bunny

Who won’t discuss
A certain Isle
And laugh when girls
Are told to smile

Who place the blame
On all but him
Refusing to
Remove the scrim
Refusing to 
Observe behavior 
While worshipping 
Some mortal “savior”

Who are these people that I once knew?

Or should I ask
Who are YOU?

Into the mirror I stare
Craving confirmation I’m still here…
There?

In my loudest inside voice I say
I SEE YOU!!

I fear this voice I use,
Even when delivered at an ear piercing decibel,
Sounds like a mere whisper to others

However, if I’m not really here
Then it’s easy to understand
Perhaps trapped in a simulation

The avoidance
The over talk
The lack of recognition of this single being
This person who gives and tries
Works and cries
Shows up
Shuts up
And somehow goes back for more…
Or rather, to give more

This voice…
So loud in the head
Loud in the heart
Loud in the gut
Does it disappear once off the lips?
Or does it survive right up until
the ear door is slammed in its face?

Not much is needed really
No grand celebration required
Just a laugh
A nod
A word or two
Something that recognizes one’s existence 
Something other
than another ask
Another task
Another sigh

Just something to prove that reflection is real

Tori Burris Inkley
7/1/25

Teetering on the edge…
Of where?
Beware
No care
Deep despair
Caught in the lair
Of the great brown bear
Golden hair
Red atop
Will not stop
First flip
Then flop
Across the barren crop
Fields
No yields
He wields 
That mighty pen…
Has been
Double chin
Flag pin 
Twisted grin
No fear
They cheer
You steer
Unclear
Under a year

Is it flight
Or fright
Or fight
That will right
The sight
Of those who bow
To the golden cow
Kiss the hand
On demand
Wear the cross
Hug the flag
Mistake for humble
Those who brag

Choices
Voices
Meant to be used
Not abused
Sit confused

Breathe it in
Hold it there
Burns the lungs
Stings the nose
Breathe it out
Let it go
Calms the tongue
Stills the woes

Tori Burris Inkley
5/31/25