Zoë Ryder White

[The dream says nothing]

The dream says nothing, 
but shows you a parked car 
and a button-down unbuttoning 
or being buttoned up or a hand 
on a warm waist. The dream 
is out of date with its offering: 
manual transmission. 
The dream provides 
manual transmission as relief 
from artificial intelligence. 
It rains into the hydrangeas’
late-season, heavy heads. 
They bend to rest 
against the earth. The dream 
keeps you warm, presses
your hands against 
the engine block. 
Filled with rain, you rest 
your heavy head 
against the earth.

Write with us. Learn with us. Publish with us.
Join a growing community of poets & readers.
Early access to calls, workshops, and updates.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
No spam. No ads. No data-selling. Unsubscribe anytime.
MEMBERSHIP PORTAL    |    FAQ   |    SUBMIT
2025 ONLY INK, Inc. All rights reserved.
ONLY POEMS®️ and associated marks are trademarks of ONLY INK, Inc. All individual works are copyrighted by their respective authors. All poems, essays, and artworks published on this site remain the intellectual property of their creators and may not be reproduced without explicit permission. The views expressed in published works are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ONLY INK, Inc., its editors, or affiliated entities. While many works draw on lived experience, they may contain fictionalized elements; no reference to any real person is intended or should be inferred. ONLY POEMS is an ad-free, independent, reader-supported publication.