In my dream
the milk expired.

“But,” I said
in my dream,
“This is special Almond hyphen Walnut Milk!
It is supposed to last much longer
than the normal stuff!”

“It does not matter,”
said my father
in my dream.
“Everything has an expiration date.
Everything
becomes dust.”

“But…
but this is milk!”
I exclaimed
in my dream.
“How can a liquid become a solid?”

“Time,” replied Twinkie the Kid.
“Time, age and dust mites.”
He lifted the carton and upended it.
Nothing came out.

“You know,” a robin
with the face of a buck
told me,
“If you were hoping for dry cereal,
you can always use water
– in a pinch.”

“Thank you,”
I said
in my dream.
“I have learned so much
today.”