three memories out of the distant past came this morning when i woke - of a man in a brown jacket and a yellow shirt, unbuttoned at the collar. a darkened room and a square of light from the window. he holds his hands out.

a man in a white shirt and a dark grey-silver tie. the same square of light from the window but a too-bright room. he has been crying. a child hovers in the doorway. she notices the reddened rims of his eyes but she doesn't know death yet.

a man in a white shirt and a red tie - there is no square of light and no room - i know that tie - naturally i know it - and suddenly the vision crumbles - the other two were memories - this one's a phantasma.