:(((((( abusive authority figures sometimes never lose their ability to influence because of the nature of our perpetual relationship with them - that of somehow being subordinate in the human ordering of relationships. However, in the spiritual dimension, we are all the "same size" and equals and if once we never "stood up" to a person because of our diminutive status, we can do so now. I agree with others who have spoken of such dreams being new opportunities to square what has hitherto been an unequal playing field, spiritually speaking. We need to recognise that the problem is with them, not with us. For example, I could never be my mother's lost son and you could never be your father's lost wife; their grief is not ours to bear guilt for, yet the desperate child within us will always play Jonah. I feel for the child within here, whether or not it is what is behind this. xx

the war is intense jude and it never ends, only the battles ebbing and flowing with the might or weakness of our resistance and resolve -- the human psyche is a complex enigma ruled primarily by the forces of chaos -- milk toast never finds the mark in this endeavour -- wage your resistance with conviction my dear friend -- I bid you joy, love and peace -- Jon Michael

May I reiterate the words of John Flanagan "Resistance
is the only thing he respects. Peace surround you Jude.
Janna

Skeletons in our closets reveal who we are. Everyone has them. Some come to haunt us, and some don't. Sleep peacefully, and dream well.

I had a dream last night that the old miner in the hit TV series Gold Rush died last summer during the making of the show. I'm waiting to see if I really am a prophet. I also dreamed that some guy by the name of Johnson, a former big wheel at our university had gone off to other universities in the state and married three times. Supposedly last week, he was returning to make reaquaintence with old friends at the University when he crashed his car with a train and both he (80) and his four-year-old son from his last marriage, died.

Strangely, Andy Rooney died yesterday. The former president of our University, Robert Terry, died when his car got caught on the track and was hit by a train quite a few years ago. During the president Johnson era, Barbara Jordan left our University to become Congresswoman and later, to move on to other universities in the state. She is also dead.

Ron

Jude,
I believe everyone has something deeply buried, it's the way that the mind keeps you sane. When bits of past surface, it usually means that the person is ready to begin to deal or heal from whatever this experience was. I truly believe that the subconscious mind is well aware of what one can handle, and it will guide you into a healthy mind and body. Always embrace the nightmares, it's the only way to get rid of buried unresolved issues. Be grateful that you are having these nightmares, because then you know that there is still hope for sanity in the future...You know all about this, I am not telling you anything that you don't know. It makes me feel good to elaborate and use my brain power to help others...

As always, deeply moving poetry!!!!!

Peace, light and love,
Amber

Jude,
i can identify well, too well, with
this terror, this blue devil..
despite best efforts, he's never buried..
fight him as much as you can, resistance
is the only thing he respects.

Stay well,

John

A deep moving and frightening recollection of dire moments eagerly buried but resurfaced through bad dreams (nighmares)yes...you told it well I too have felt such terror.

re: call... all too familiar refrain, like a collective remembrance to glut the pain of individualism on the rose of transcendentalism ... yes to sleep, perchance to dream... but if life be nothing more than a haunting, then what is the purpose of the recall? Is there a future in it? Still, this is another fine poem that teases us all out of thought... wondering, Jude at the choice to personify 'recall'... rather inchoate for such cloying emotion, don't you think? In my worst dreams, he's bandaged from head to foot and bungee jumping into oblivion... it would be nice to have him walking about again, though. Peace to pieces and sweet dreams.

Roger

haunting dreams that chill the soul while dragging up old laundry are
just no fun at all! sometimes one can just say, "f**k it" and return
to sleep, other times, not so lucky...just roll with it!
vivid capture, jude. you are a master poet to say the least.
peace & blessings,
carolyn

Traumatic experience relived in a dream... maybe the purpose of the unconscious is to release the pressure and find closure. An interesting psychological description.

Axilea

This reaches depths that aren't easily forgotten. Excellent writing Jude!

Insightful write? Or your imagination working overtime?
I guess we all have such nightmares from time to time. Blimey, I used to wake up crying that my dad had died, and now he has, I find them strangely comforting and reassuring with his massive; gentle caring presence still continuing.

Excellently executed write!

A familiar journey into the unexpected ~
Yes, how dark, frightening and haunting those unresolved relationships and experiences can be!

Nightmares can be terrorizing!! I think our subconscious comes into play with these dreams; perhaps this is a way for us to bring the things that bother us to the conscious level where we can better deal with them. Wonderful, pithy thoughts here, Jude. An awesome write.

Joy L. Hale

dreams offer the perfect place to heal old wounds - allow what is and give all the characters love and forgiveness, then wake up :)

Terry Rizzuti says it well, bad dreams are dreams of hell, a snipped here and there, is good for the soul though. Bless ya!

Sometimes I believe our nightmares are to remind us how far we have come and how thankful we should be we escaped whatever tortures we once lived.
fee

If you don't have bad dreams, you haven't lived on the edge.

Scary dreams I have a few,
Taken from my life on cue,
Usually after eating a mixed stew,
As well something that does make me rue...e

I consider myself fortunate that I don't have bad dreams; perhaps once a year I may stumble and fall in my dreams which will wake me up but other than that, my dreams may be strange but never scary or disturbing. I hope tonight is a more restful one for you.
Take care,
Sherry