The White Screen

The White Screen

The screen is huge, white, and spotless.

The lights slowly turn dim.

Words and pictures begin to appear in black.

There is even something moving.

They are in shades of gray,

And now colors and strange patterns fill the background.

And now there are mountains.

And now I hear a gurgling stream.

I see water,

And I want to run there.

I hear a song,   

And then a shapely form appears.

And then there is raucous laughter,

Followed by drums and violent movement,

Dances, and a spray of colors.

And then a lot of trampling,

Crying and wailing.

Suddenly it all turns silent,

And the lights come on.

I rush to the screen.

I stroke it with both my palms.

There was no trace of what I saw.

There was just me and,

There was the white screen.

Who would believe me,

Even if I told them what I saw?

Would I have seen what I did

If the screen was black?