She preached
of using lucid dreaming
to visualize material success.

She was earnest and spoke
of manifesting prosperity through
alignment of the chakras.

She was lovely, steadfast in a wan
ethereal fog, bent on directing
the Universe toward her goals.

I pitied her;
so, so sad —
so, so American.

To demand utility
of the unconscious,
to enslave it that way —

I shuddered and foresaw
the Snake Of The Inner World
tossing a constrictor curl across her throat

someday as she slept; I heard a horrid rendition
of the Star-Spangled Banner
as if gargled by a Dragon

being played
at her funeral; I heard her dreams
clapping triumphantly along.