The Reading The Writing Life Life: Chapter 2

As I read Ms. Dillard's "The Writing Life," I was struck by lightning and had a whimsical dream.  In my dream I was reading Ms. Dillard's "The Writing Life," and I closed all of the curtains and locked the doors so as not to be disturbed.  I read through the first chapter with ease, but when I came to the second chapter, I heard a knocking at my door.  I realized that that knocking had been going on for upwards of ten minutes, but I was busily engaged in reading clear and succinct prose.  So I ignored the disgusting creature that I imagined was knocking on my door.  But the knocking continued.  I got up and walked to the door and peered through the eyehole hesitantly.  It was as I feared.  An allegory was threatening to invade my reading life.  I returned to Ms. Dillard's book and plunged back in with a vigor.  Then a new sound emerged.  On my shuttered window a rat-tatting was being made.  I feared it was another allegory, so I ignored it.  But the noise sounded so sweet, I checked to make sure I was not mistaken.  Peeking behind the curtains I saw that the noise was being made by a parable.  Looking behind the parable, I saw a third creature appearing over the crest of the hill.  It was an anecdote, and it looked to have the intent to enter my door.  So I gave up and flung open the door almost joyously.  The parable and the anecdote and the allegory flooded in, and sat down on my couch and helped themselves to a beer.  I woke up then, but my mind was still filled with metaphorical tales.