For the past year or so, I have had the same dream over and over: driving at night with non-functioning traffic lights. Imagine being alone in the wee hours of the night. There are no signs of life, except the occasional creep and critter. You come to a four-way intersection, but the traffic lights are dark.

All you have to light the way are street lights, but it's not enough. Every so often, the nightmare includes a gas station. The problem is that it's abandoned. No one and nothing can help you there.

It may not sound scary to some people, but it terrifies me. I don't know why the same nightmare keeps coming back to haunt me. I don't know if it is a sign, a warning, or just a random, annoying dream that likes to repeat itself.

After giving this poem to my poetry professor, she found my recurring dream to be very interesting. We even did a little online research to see if the nightmare had some kind of meaning.

We concluded that the dream represents my anxiety. It actually makes sense. I fear the unknown frequently and I'm afraid of being left alone and confused.

I'm still not sure if this is the true reason behind my recurring nightmare. To be honest, I'm not sure if I believe dreams even have meanings. However, I'm open to any interpretations. For now, I am sticking with the anxiety theory.

Here is the poem I wrote on my dream:

I take a sharp turn when

I exit the freeway.

It's dark, the lights above me are orange

And dim. Flickering often.

The traffic lights are coming. But

They're not on.

Red, yellow, and green were scarce.

I was met with three black spheres, which had

No desire to guide me home.

I am all alone.

Fending for myself.

Someone please fix them.

Fix the traffic lights.

The store to the left is black, too.

Empty lot, dry pumps, dust coating the windows.

No souls inside. Abandoned. Forgotten.

My heart is pounding,

Confusion clouding my brain.

I just want to go home.