When I was young I fell asleep
   And dreamt I sailed upon a sea
Where dreams were real enough, and cheap.
   We called the sea: Reality.

The colours of the world have leached,
   My skin is creased, my fingers shake;
I woke to find the barky beached.
   Spiced foods give me the belly-ache.

I wonder if I’m fast awake
   Or dreaming still?  I wouldn’t know.
The sea is shrunk into a lake —
   And where did all the mermaids go?