stood to the left of a large, withered tree. Its leaveless branches reaching towards a moonless, gray sky, and down toward a colorless stone coffin. The sound of crackling wind filled the air, but there was no sense of motion in the empty surroundings.The land seemed familiar, reminding me of a distant castle and perhaps a road from another time. However, I could see nothing beyond the tree and raised stone casket. A fog seemed to permeate the distance, blending the horizon with the twilight sky.
While the casket was closed before, the lid was now shifted aside, and a dessicated corpse laid on it's side in the upper portion of the vast interior. I was no longer outside, but laying inside this open casket next to the occupant, but at its feet. My mother stood outside, looking in. I could sense no emotion from her.
I stand next to my mother, and my younger brother Christopher lays where I once did inside the casket. My mother is very disappointed, both with my brothers choice, and with me for letting him climb in.
We stand silently observing my brother lying in the casket next to the dried corpse. Christopher is laughing.
What I found most disturbing, and entrancing about this dream was its visual style. While the people appeared flesh and blood, the surroundings and atmosphere were distinctly Edward Gorey. Most people would know this look from the animated introduction to PBS "Mystery".
The presence of my younger brother, Christopher was interesting. I've come to believe dreams are shadow cast by memory. As your mind puts away all the objects, events and issues it deals with during the waking day, they each briefly pass before a metaphorical light projector, casting distored images of light and shadow.
For the past few months, I've dealt with some family matters concerning my brother which I don't let myself think about. Somehow, they found expression in an Edward Gorey vignette. No matter what he does, in a way I'll always feel responsible for him. Perhaps this sequence was a subtle way of reminding myself of that.
Now, for your reading pleasure, here's a two-page comic on Edward Gorey I found online.Page 1: Alphabets, Bearded Gentlemen, Cats, Hapless Children, Nonsense, Po-Faces and more.
Page 2: A question of sorts.
