I'M AT MY RAINY MORNING WORKDESK in shroudy Manhattan and I look down by the dock and see the Navy vessels anchored in the bay and the crowds of sailors walking on the water towards the land--

I say "Everybody's learnt that trick now--it seems to be easy--too easy--it must be some simple gimmick"--

--Jack Kerouac

EDITOR'S NOTES

I posted this little dream image because it's a fine example of a lucidity-prompt. Stephen La Berge's books on lucidity seem to emphasize conscious testing to see if you may be dreaming; but I've found my dreams often give me obvious prompts or nudges--two moons in the sky, people levitating... And most nights I do as Jack does--dismiss even the most blatant pokes with "Must be some simple gimmick." Because I'm a blockhead. Only when asleep, of course. I'm not blind to miracles under my nose when awake! No.

Source: page 251 of Book of Dreams by Jack Kerouac, expanded (2001) edition, City Lights Books.
Date: estimated from sequence.
Title: Kerouac always capitalized a dream's first phrase as a working title, even if it didn't fit the dream as a whole.

--Chris Wayan

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