Wanderer Impromptu
︎︎︎ Nathaniel McGlue
︎ July 17, 2026
In a dream I was the wanderer
The lost young man cold and wet again
through the streets of the old town again
I snuck into her house for warmth
I meant no harm
Up the steps through the tall round red brick portal
Victoria’s day
Such a beautiful silent home
The golden runner in the hall
The ticking heirloom clock
I meant no harm
I left her an email explaining, apologizing
What I had done
I meant no harm
Down through the years I did it again
Now and again
When I wandered cold and wet through the streets of the old quarter
Sneaking again into her fine old house again
Up the steep steps through the proud red portal
For warmth
I meant no harm
Ten years gone I wandered back again
To sneak in again
Never again
Because she stopped me on the steps to her fine old house
The deep red brick portal
Victoria’s reign
Her eyes two peepholes to a polar sea
You cannot do this anymore she says
You cannot come here anymore
I know what you’ve been doing
I read your email and you cannot do this anymore
I’d been sneaking into her house in a dream of ten years
Her daughter was all grown up now and as beautiful as her mother
The lost young man cold and wet again
through the streets of the old town again
I snuck into her house for warmth
I meant no harm
Up the steps through the tall round red brick portal
Victoria’s day
Such a beautiful silent home
The golden runner in the hall
The ticking heirloom clock
I meant no harm
I left her an email explaining, apologizing
What I had done
I meant no harm
Down through the years I did it again
Now and again
When I wandered cold and wet through the streets of the old quarter
Sneaking again into her fine old house again
Up the steep steps through the proud red portal
For warmth
I meant no harm
Ten years gone I wandered back again
To sneak in again
Never again
Because she stopped me on the steps to her fine old house
The deep red brick portal
Victoria’s reign
Her eyes two peepholes to a polar sea
You cannot do this anymore she says
You cannot come here anymore
I know what you’ve been doing
I read your email and you cannot do this anymore
I’d been sneaking into her house in a dream of ten years
Her daughter was all grown up now and as beautiful as her mother