It’s hard to stand here,
Looking out into the future,
Wondering what it holds for us,
If anything…
I remembered the dream we had,
So long ago,
When the world was still young and beautiful,
And the waters flowed clean and sweet…
I remember how blue the sky was then,
How lovely it was to watch the birds fly,
And hear their morning song with you by my side…
The birds don’t sing anymore.
They have fallen from the sky,
Their broken wings litter the earth,
And maggots suck their bones dry.
The skies are gray now,
Sometimes a bit of blue peeks through,
Bit it is not often.
And soon after the rains always come,
Not that sweet rain which once fell upon us,
As we danced in love for this grace,
Remember when we held our heads up,
Tasting that sweet water that fell from the sky?
Those days are long gone.
Now we cringe in fear for the danger it brings;
The children fear the rain now,
They have not danced in it for years.
My love the earth rots at our feet,
And still we do nothing.
How can they be so blind?
Do they not sense the very earth growing weary?
When will we stop this mad race to the cliff’s edge?
I pray it will not be too late.
Oh let this be the night that you remember the dream!
Smell the flowers that once bloomed in the spring!
Watch those gray clouds loom not with fear,
But joy and hope!
Teach the children to dance again!
To honor the earth with each life birthed,
Give back the future we took away,
With greed and lust for more materialist things,
We do not need!
It is a dream remembered,
A hope that lives in my heart,
That one day,
You will remember it too…
Such a timely message, Retta. Would that men heed it before it is too late. Thank you. Love and peace to you,
Regis
Reviewed by Vesna Perkovic (Reader)
Reviewed on January 21, 2006
THIS is what needs to be heard over and over again until something IS done about our dying earth..Gaia needs help..what are we doing about it? Thankyou Retta for reminding us..we are very fortunate here in Croatia..the water is still sweet and unpoluted..tap water is as good as spring water..
Retta, you make an excellent argument for all to begin to respect the earth again. To nurish her as she nurishes us. To put away our wasteful ways and live in a more ecologically sound way. Thank you for reminding all of us of our duty to the earth.
Bobbi
Reviewed by Andy Turner (Reader)
Reviewed on January 20, 2006
Brilliance.. It's got to be done now now now.
So many buy so much, that is not needed.
It is so frustrating that we know the answer. Yet refuse to believe it. Gimmie gimmie gimmie, more more more.
Superbly said...
As always, Reindeer, you spin words of wisdom and awe within your beautiful writings. I enjoyed this very much. Love and peace to you, dear gentle soul.
The dream will be fulfilled, as our Mother is much older and wiser than her children. She renews herself continually. She will live, even as we are on the brink of extinction from our willful disregard
of natural law. We forget that we are not above nature, but are a part of it's cycle. Excellent write, Retta...Lin
Reviewed by Kate Clifford (Reader)
Reviewed on January 19, 2006
I agree with the others, this is a very powerful poem with a great message in it that needs to be heard, understood and placed into action. Great write.
Reviewed by J M (Reader)
Reviewed on January 19, 2006
Beautiful poetry very touching piece. Ty for this post.
Oh Retta, you've said it all so clearly herein. I don't hold out much hope that those among us of a materialistic bent will change willingly--- it will take many more years of mounting natural disasters to wake people up! But in the end, Gaia is in charge and her patience seems to be running out...
Well done,
Peace and Blessings,
Carolyn
THIS. is poetry at it's absolute finest. Powerfully penned, with a thought provoking message that will linger, if we give a damn about nature. I do...and you've written a beauty, recalling what she once was...and can be again, if we listen. Thank you!
I agree with Eileen below entirely, this is indeed stellar poetry, and a wake up call to the world, before we destroy the life support system of our beautiful planet !
Thank you Retta for this timely reminder
Peter
Reindeer - Your words are so descriptive of a world-wide problem; one so huge and complex it boggles the mind. Thank you for an unforgettable poem crying out for reversing much of what we're doing to spoil Mother Earth's livability.
When an omnipotent God provides the means for us to stop reproducing ourselves, we will have the answers to population growth, which demands housing, jobs, and services. I don't have the answers, but believe that there are reasons for our stupidity and blindsiding in dealing with providing increasing means of making new millions comfortable. Perhaps, it will take a major calamity, ending the lives of millions, to bring around the leaders of ALL NATIONS which can do something about the killing fields of the world. Your offering is unforgettable, and I thank you for it. – Bill
Reviewed by Jerry Bolton (Reader)
Reviewed on January 18, 2006
It's a wonder we are still living and breathing in this land of corrupted air and water and . . . whatever. Sigh.
Pursue your grand dreams and never forget the person you want to be! And for everything you take from nature, give back three-fold. And love the children, reinforce their dreamworks, give them wisdom of nature. And how sad that acid rain prevents us from catching it in rain barrels to wash our hair. You remembered the Dream well, Reindeer. Blessed Be.
The deep-dive literary meditations presented as stories, poems, and essays in The American Poet Who Went Home Again, A Mosaic of My Soul at Work, have captivated and inspired readers ever since its first paperback publication in 2008.
A homonymless man writes shows what it's like to look up the laid he skirts when you’re lying prone(d) to the sidewalk, beer / joint / needle dangling from your hand /lips / arm.
Poetic excellence depicting "A Dream Remembered", and delivering
an ecological message to stimulate humanity and social responsibility.
I have read a masterpiece of wisdom and beauty through the magical lines of "A Dream Remembered".
Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU
Regis
Vesna;)
Bobbi
So many buy so much, that is not needed.
It is so frustrating that we know the answer. Yet refuse to believe it. Gimmie gimmie gimmie, more more more.
Superbly said...
of natural law. We forget that we are not above nature, but are a part of it's cycle. Excellent write, Retta...Lin
Love & Light,
Joseph
Well done,
Peace and Blessings,
Carolyn
TRASK
TX
Amira
Love Tinka
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :D
THIS. is poetry at it's absolute finest. Powerfully penned, with a thought provoking message that will linger, if we give a damn about nature. I do...and you've written a beauty, recalling what she once was...and can be again, if we listen. Thank you!
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Thank you Retta for this timely reminder
Peter
Eileen
Fantastic write Rein.....
Lovely art......
When an omnipotent God provides the means for us to stop reproducing ourselves, we will have the answers to population growth, which demands housing, jobs, and services. I don't have the answers, but believe that there are reasons for our stupidity and blindsiding in dealing with providing increasing means of making new millions comfortable. Perhaps, it will take a major calamity, ending the lives of millions, to bring around the leaders of ALL NATIONS which can do something about the killing fields of the world. Your offering is unforgettable, and I thank you for it. – Bill
FElix
Blessings Paul;-)
Sage