I have a dream

we are in the baking goods
aisle at Wal-Mart
and there are octopi

shaking flour and baking
chocolate into the air
and over themselves and everyone

else is weeping
or laughing
depending for some reason
on their weight

except for us
because we’re protected
by a gigantic bubble
blown from
the adjoined mouths
of hundreds of seahorses

and inside this bubble
you are getting
an obstetrics exam
from Admiral Akbar
to check on the progress
of our child
who is actually more
of a castle made
of cardboard
and tin foil

but Akbar needs to ascertain
the development
of its drawbridge

so he removes
the baby
slowly
to avoid
breaching its walls
examines its
drawbridge
for durability
and length
and then slowly
pushes it
back inside
your vagina
but not before
you make
a sound like
you’re swallowing
down the wrong pipe

and as if this were a sign
of internal hemorrhage
or premature labor
Akbar begins shoving
packing peanuts
and bubble wrap
up inside your vagina
to make sure
our castle
is secure
and only
once he’s sure
does he then
apply packing
tape to your
labia strip
after strip of
packing tape
telling us
it will dissolve
in time
for you
to give
birth
to this very
tiny castle
which has waited
many days
and nights to
lower its drawbridge
to an unexpected
traveler