Dream Babies
There in the streets sit the little kids
Dreaming dreams with closed eyelids.
The boys are in blue, the men in black,
They’re laughing at you behind your back,
Sea of green or sea of blue,
Makes me green and makes me blue,
Inside out and turn about,
Outside in and about turn,
Inside out and turn about,
Outside in and roundabout.
The kids get up from their repose,
And scurry home to their holes.
Mamma puts all her babies to bed
With their dreams still whirring in their little heads.
Sea of green and sea of blue
Makes me green and makes me blue,
From the pool the fool appears,
Drowning in his own tears.
Out in the streets sit the little kids,
Dreaming dreams with closed eyelids,
The boys are in blue; the men in black,
Laughing at you behind your back.
Dream dreams, Dream Babies,
Dreaming dreams, Dream Babies
. *****
EDGAR
I have this friend called Edgar,
He’s a cool kind’a guy,
The best friend anyone could ask fer.
Edgar’s always there when I need him,
He’s full of sympathy,
He knows how to comfort me when my brains not in.
Edgar can always lend an ear,
He never argues back,
And comforts me in my deepest fear.
I want you to meet Edgar.
I can’t see him- I’ll call for him; he must be somewhere.
“ Edgar “ “ Edgar “ Where is Edgar?
No one knows.
In this kind of weather,
He’ll get chilly toes.
Has anyone seen him?
Anyone anywhere?
I get so worried ‘bout him,
He likes to give me a scare.
Sometimes he does this to me,
I shouldn’t really care.
Has anyone seen Edgar?
Anyone anywhere?
Look here comes mum,
She’s bound to know,
She has this natural instinct,
And always knows.
Edgar’s in the cupboard,
What’s he doing there?
While mum was cleaning,
Edgar fell off the chair.
I’ll go and get him,
He doesn’t like it in there.
I’ll have to dress him,
You see he’s bare.
I’ll be back in a minute,
Wait; sit down in the chair.
Well, at last you meet.
This is my friend Edgar.
What do you mean
He’s only a teddy-bear?
*****
TO BE SEEN
You make me feel so empty inside,
Especially when you open your mouth up wide,
Your remarks are so very derisory,
Bringing me pain, low self-esteem and misery.
But why should you really care
As long as you’re seen as the good guy?
You throw out your remarks with panache and flare,
And watch with contempt as I surrender and cry.
Self-satisfied? I think you must be.
You wallow in self-gratifying hypocrisy.
When you’re on a pedestal made for one you’re happy,
It’s custom made for you, no room for me.
You’ve got to be seen to be seen,
No matter what state you appear to be,
Usually you look unkempt, unshaven, unclean,
But honestly why should that bother me?
Maybe it does. Maybe it should bother you too.
After all, yes this poem’s all about YOU.
You should be pleased as punch and proud,
With your head held high up in the clouds.
But no not you, no doubt you could have done much better,
Not just a poem, but a very business like letter,
Silly cow, after all that’s as much as I possibly mean,
To have even thought I could have earned a bit of self-esteem.
I hang my head low, Is it contempt, or is it disgust?
I really don’t know,
Even myself I can’t trust.
*****
Tomorrow never comes
I thought I was strong enough to fight,
I knew the difference between wrong and right,
I thought I could see between the black and white,
But now my dreams fade into the distant light.
I haven’t got all the answers straight
I’ve become sceptical; don’t believe in fate,
Can’t tell you the difference between love and hate,
I tell you this as I wipe clean my slate.
I watch the raindrops as they fall away
I catch a glimpse of the new dawning day,
As the tide crashes in on the rocks around the bay,
The pain is unflinching; it won’t go away.
I can’t help this hurt, I well up and dry,
The teardrops fall and I watch them run dry,
There’s no point ever trying to lie,
Today I will fight; well, tomorrow I’ll die.
*****
© Andrea Coltman
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I am reading and read all your poems,all the reviews,encouragements
asking you to carry on writing.I found all your poems very touching
coming from the bottom of your heart.I just cannot choose which one would be my favorite because all of them are.
After reading your poems my vocabulary to express myself in a way
you deserve it too small.One day you will be a famous poetess.
Love Alex.
more beautiful gems from your talented pen--BRAVA, dear friend
(((HUGS))) and love,
karla. :)
Sooo happy you joined! These are absolutely wonderful! Welcome to AD! We are sooo happy you are here; you have nothing to be ashamed or afraid of; you are among friends here! (((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in america, karen lynn in texas. :D
Didn’t I tell you you’re much better than I am?!
Enjoy the experience.
I am very proud of you!
Much love.
Reviewed by Laurie Anthony 12/13/2003
The sensitivity, the unique choice of words, the deep thoughts and
reflection .. some of the reasons why I enjoyed these poems. Thank you for
sharing them!
Reviewed by Alex Nodopaka 12/9/2003
Andrea,
Each of your poems has a very special unique sensitivity. I am impressed by
your abilities to see beneath the facade people present. Your surrealistic
turn of sentences demonstrates an educated thought process. I am convinced
that soon I'll see your writing in ... how about..... The New Yorker? The
Atlantic Monthly? Always aim higher than you feel capable of achieving.
Happy writing!
Reviewed by Erin Moen 12/9/2003
They are beautiful, painful pieces, Andrea. :) If I had to pick, I think
"Edgar" shone into my mind the most, it is so poignant and 'trusting' in
its tone and explanitory style. You gave him life, a special place and your
heart. Keep writing, keeping pushing deeper, you are a fine Poet, Andrea.
Reviewed by Leland Waldrip 12/8/2003
Andrea is an excellent poet. I enjoyed all her poems and hope to read more
from her. She writes from her heart with a simple yet deeply elegant style.
My best regards to her.
Leland
Reviewed by La Belle Rouge 12/8/2003
Please tell Andrea that I really enjoyed her poetry and hope she will join
us so I can read more. Andrea it's time to freely share your wonderful
poetic gift, don't be shy, you are so welcome here.
Reviewed by Robert Jude(Ace) Forese 12/8/2003
all poems are excellent! coax her to join AD, she would be a fine addition
to the AD family!
Reviewed by Claywoman 12/7/2003
Andrea, join! your voice needs to be heard! You have talent and it needs to
be expressed! Your words are very profound and wonderfully spoken. Peter is
right, we need you here! Welcome to AD!
Reviewed by Zenith Elliott 12/7/2003
Excellent poetry Andrea! Hope to see you posting at AD soon. I just turned
45 and just started posting my poems this April, don't wait as long as I
did to display your talent. Best wishes to you and Peter this is very
thoughtful of you! ~Z~
Reviewed by Jacqueline Brooks 12/6/2003
I liked 'Edgar' - the Teddy Bear, and there is something very profound in
'To Be Seen' and 'Tomorrow never Comes.' They are all very good and there
is a great talent here, poetry straight from the heart that should be
shared. Jackie <> <
Reviewed by Mitch Waldman 12/6/2003
well done.
Reviewed by Michelle Kidwell 12/5/2003
These are such wonderful poems she has no reason to be shy or embarrased...
God Bless
~Michelle~
Reviewed by T.R.C. Beaver 12/5/2003
'TO BE SEEN" and 'Tomorrow never comes' are my FAVS!
To explore the joy of reading and writing can be a pleasure here. Please
join.
TRC Beaver
Reviewed by Deborah Russell 12/5/2003
Fine work, especially like, To Be Seen. The children's poems are lovely,
could be books by themselves.
Reviewed by Ronald Hull 12/5/2003
Andrea, I particularly like Dream Babies and Edgar. However, on the whole,
I'd say you write fine poetry, fit to be published. Please join us and help
raise the bar at AD, ... Ron
Reviewed by Joyce Hale 12/5/2003
And indeed, they are pearls, Andrea! Dream Babies reminded me of songs and
games we recited and played when children.
Edgar was adorable! I figured he was an imaginary friend at first, but of
course, he wasn't! He was a real teddy bear!
To Be Seen was sad, and so lonely! As was Tomorrow Never Comes. Don't we
all have times when we are lost, or beat down, insecure and of low esteem!?
You voiced them so well. Thanks so much for sharing your words, and thank
you, Peter, for sharing them also!
Peace.
Reviewed by May Lu a.k.a. Sandie Angel 12/5/2003
I really love all these poems of the heart and soul. Reading these poems
are like listening to one of my close friends speaking softly the secrets
from the heart to me. In some I personally can relate to:
"Edgar" is almost like my childhood friend "My Pink Little Friend" which
was a stuffed pink rabbit.
I feel very close to "Tomorrow Never Comes", for sometimes this is just how
I feel.
I so enjoyed all these poems. I hope to read more. Thank you for sharing!
May Lu a.k.a. Sandie Angel :o)
Reviewed by Daniel McTaggart 12/5/2003
I love all these poems. But I think Dream Babies is really my favorite. The
rhyme scheme had a kind of sing-song rhythym to it. Very enjoyable and
musical. Edgar was a nice nostalgic ditty about a childhood friend. I like
how we don't find out he's really a teddy bear until the end. It was kind
of fun to speculate on what he might be to be popping up in all those
places. To Be Seen sounds like a resolution between the writer and a ugly
chapter of her life. Although recovering from its effects will be slow, she
will not soon suffer the same way again. That part of her life will
probably always be present in some way. But as time passes, so grows the
trust she used to have in herself. Tomorrow Never Comes is like a
philosophy I always live by. Too much pain can come from worrying about
what tomorrow may hold. Better to take today as it comes and let tomorrow
take care of itself. All in all, a very good sampling from a talented new
poet. I hope to see more from her in the future.
Reviewed by Kate Clifford 12/5/2003
Thank you for sharing Andrea's Pearls with us! Andrea when you start
posting here please let me know so I can put you on my tracker. Does that
tell you how much I have enjoyed your poems? Its always a little scary to
put our work out to public and I am glad you have taken your first
step....even if you had to be pushed a little.
Tomorrow Never Comes touched me the most and I loved the way you ended
Edgar. You took me by surprise and that is not easy! :-) Please join us
here at AD.
Reviewed by cheryl sellers 12/5/2003
Bravo !! the lady is a true wordsmith, when her poems are read aloud they
sing ..... I loved the "Teddy" poem it was so pure, as a child would see
it's friend.... thank you for sharing ... I would love to read more of your
work Andrea
Reviewed by Rage of Reason 12/5/2003
Dream babies
A compassionate reflection on our hopes for the future that we often
neglect and abuse, wasting the beauty and talent that is in every child. We
are to blame for those who go wrong and must often consider ourselves lucky
if they grow up into good persons inspite of our interference. This was a
held back, heartfelt poem with a special atmosphere that clearly expresses
your views. Children are in need of people such as you.
Edgar
It made me think of my sister who'd play with her dolls for hours almost
every day. I recognized the images I still have when walking down memory
lane. Very well expressed.
To be seen
Ignorance is the engine of arrogance and arrogance the property of useless
persons. I should know; I've been one for very long myself. I was blessed
to run into gut wrenching conditions, that were necessary to make me
change. When reading I was still abhorred by the dimwit I used to be. I
guess this means you did an excellent job with this poem :)
Tomorrow never comes
Oh but it does! In unforgiving ways or holding rewards that we were unable
to imagine just the day before. Until meteors hit the earth or nuclear
winter kills us all. Untill then I hope to read more of your splendid work,
thanking Peter for featuring you here in AD!
Take care,
Rage
Reviewed by karla dorman 12/5/2003
(((peter)))
thank you for sharing andrea's poetry with us here at author's den. i
enjoyed them all, especially "to be seen" and "tomorrow never comes."
please encourage andrea to keep writing; i shall be looking forward to more
works by her!
(((HUGS))) and love to both of you,
karla.
we all, as you know, suffer from low self-esteem; encouragement and support
means so much!
Reviewed by Joshua Michael Stewart 12/5/2003
i like these poems very much especially "to be seen" i would like to read
more.
Reviewed by Diana May 12/5/2003
Great write.
Reviewed by karen vidra 12/5/2003
Andrea Claire Hale is a beautiful young woman, and she is a very talented
poetess! Thank you for telling me about her; these are wonderful, and you
are a dear for wanting to help her! (((HUGS))) to you, Peter, and
(((HUGS))) to Andrea! Andrea: don't worry about what people may say; just
write from the heart, and keep on writing! Don't ever let people stray you
away from your dream! I was shy about writing at first, but now I love it!
Who knows: You may end up being a PUBLISHED writer (something I am working
on, but have yet to attain)! Still, I am NOT giving up hope, and neither
should you!! Writing is an excellent way to help you heal and to cope with
life's challenges; I know from experience! Love, your friend in Texas,
Karen Lynn. :D Andrea, feel free to come to Authorsden; I for one would
LOVE to read your works! We are a FAMILY here, and you have nothing to fear
from us! We are FRIENDS, and we ALL love to write!
God Bless
~Michelle~