#dreams

The Dream

What if life is just a dream

And nothing is what it seems

Each night when I close my eyes

I’m transported to the other side

Just to think that that’s the dream

 

What if all of this is in my head

Will I awake there when I’m dead

Will I open my eyes to see

All my departed friends and family

Or will I see something else instead

 

If this is a dream when did it start

Is it a collective of which I’m a part

Or is the dream of life simulated

The trials leaving me so frustrated

To awaken to find it’s a piece of art

 

What if life was just a grand stage

That we act upon until we go away

What was the story all about

And if my character was written out

Would you remember the part I played

What if this stage we no longer shared

And I awoke to reality over there

I would miss you my friend

And until I see you again

In this play, I hope you fare well

Yes my friend, I bid you farewell

Author's Notes/Comments: 

I contemplated whether life was a play in which we all play apart, or if perhaps it is but a dream. It also explores the concept of the possibility of life being a simulation, and the idea that we might see the ones we love who have passed again someday. It also expresses a wish for the end of this play or my "simulation."

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SOME WIMPLE WISHES

 

Some simple wishes to begin the day:

 

May everyone in the world… endeavor 

To live the kindest, most generous life we can… 

knowing none of us will live forever.

 

Knowing in the never-ending continuum of time…

we’re only here a short while.

so with those who we share this short time with:

may we laugh, and play and sing and dance

may we share our love…and smile.

 

May we make the most of our time together…

while we have the time.

May we create our own poetry of life

and when we bring our poetry together…

may we find a way to make it rhyme

 

May we treat the Earth and her bounty with care

May we do no harm to one another

May we find a way to understand

everyone IS our sister and our brother…

 

May we make a world where no one is ever hungry or lives in fear

And finally:

May we leave this world a better place

for all those who will one day be spending their time here.

 
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TWO KINDS OF DREAMS

 

It seems to me I have two types of dreams as through my life I stroll…

The first are the dreams I make…over which I have a modicum of control.

 

Dreams I work on every day…dreams that never stop….

Dreams of being a good person, a good teacher, a good husband, father and Pop-Pop.

 

Dreams that make me smile as I fall asleep…when another day is through…

knowing I did my part in making those dreams come true.

 

But there are a second set of dreams I dream…as through my life I stroll…

Dreams that no matter what I say or do…are out of my control.

 

Dreams I’m forced to leave to Fate…and when another day is through…

dreams that no matter how hard I dream…may…or may not…come true.

 

Global dreams of peace throughout the world…in every country…every state…

Dreams that another person need not die at the hands of anger, prejudice…or hate.

 

Dreams that are more personal…dreams I’d like to see…

come true for the people in my life…the ones who are closest to me.

 

The dreams within my heart that in a quiet room I keep…

dreams I whisper to myself…before I fall asleep.

 

The dreams I put into a prayer…or save is a wishing jar…

Dreams I make on a dandelion…or attach to a shooting star.

 

Dreams whispered when I cross my fingers…the kind of dreams I make…

at a wishing well, when a ladybug lands on me…or while blowing out the candles on my cake.

 

Yes, some dreams I am happy to control and smile contentedly when the day is through..

for all the others I’ll make a wish on anything to help make those dreams come true.

 

And when I am blessed to wake up…each of my days follows a similar theme….

It’s another day to control what I can…and another day to dream

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AFTER THE WAR

 

 

The old man…who has lived long…who has seen this a hundred times before

was asked, “What he thinks is the saddest part of war?”

 

“The tragedy of war,” the old man said, “amid the destruction, the death…the screams

is what it does to the children…specifically to their dreams.”

 

Before the war children’s dreams are pure and innocent…and free…

Before the war children dream of a world they’d like to see.”

 

“A world of toys and candy…where only rain and sunshine fall from up above.

A peaceful world filled with family, laughter, friendship…a world of tenderness and love.”

 

After the war…their dreams have changed…their childhood dreams have ceased

Now…as they remember the death and the destruction…

they no longer dream of peace.

 

They are no longer those same children, 

young and innocent and small…

now they dream of revenge…

of retaliation…

of retribution…

if they are still alive or dare to dream at all.

 

The saddest part of war, the old man said…

is when the children’s dreams no longer harmlessly and naively soar….

it’s when their dreams…once so innocent and free…

now turn to dreams of war.”

 

For when dreams of family and love and laughter 

dreams of toys and candy…and peace…

turn to dreams of war…

then wars will never cease.

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SOMETIMES I WONDER

 

 

Sometimes I wonder what it’d be like to be a bird…

to sing a morning song 

to spread my wings and fly

high above the treetops…

to soar across the sky.

 

Sometimes I wonder what it’d be like to be a river otter

to swim and dive and spin all day playing in and out the water.

 

Sometimes I wonder what it’d be like to be an elephant 

to use my trunk just like a hand

To…at the same time be the strongest…

and gentlest creature on the land

 

Sometimes I wonder what it’d be like to be a dolphin

think of all the places I would roam…

if I could swim as fast as they can

if the ocean was why home…

 

So many different animals

I wonder what they’d be like to be….

and I wonder…

if they ever wonder…

what it would be like..

to be me.

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TEIR DREAM CONTINUES

 

Deborah’s parents believed people should life their lives at a kind and gentle pace

so when they’re gone just the thought of them would bring a smile to our face. 

 

I’d like to tell you about this couple…who made a kind and loving team…

how, 40 years into their marriage, they shared a similar dream.

 

It all began a while ago…back in 1982.

when they decided to build a cabin in N. C….a cabin with a view.

 

A cabin they could visit every summer…a place for family and friends to meet…

high up in the mountains…far from the Florida heat.

 

They built their cabin in the mountains…tucked in among the trees…

where sitting on the porch we’re visited by birds and butterflies and bees.

 

Where we can watch the sunrise in the morning…the slow advance of light…

then watch the moon illuminate the sky…and count the stars at night.

 

In the 40 years since they built their dream cabin…they were blessed to see…

sitting together on their porch a myriad of friends and family.

 

Their cabin has seen wonders the two of them wouldn’t have dared to believe…

It’s seen their families grow, couples on their honeymoon…

and at least 1 baby (that we know of) there conceived.

 

Deborah’s parents are no longer around…their laughter no longer fills the air…

but such is the nature of love….their presence is everywhere.

 

As we sit upon their porch…trying to follow their kind and gentle pace…

every thought we have of them…brings a smile to our face.

 

Today as we sit among the trees…from the moment we arrive…

We hope Deborah’s parents rest in peace knowing 

we are doing everything we can…

to keep their dream alive.

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COUNTING DREAMS

 

 

Fate is a capricious mistress…we don’t know from where our destiny stems…

With some people luck seems to ride upon their shoulders 

While with others…misfortune follows them.

 

What follows is the story of a man to whom fate has been unkind…

It’s as if to a life of misfortune he has been confined.

 

Without going into details…his life’s been filled with sorrow and heartache and pain…

but every time life knocks him down…he gets back up again.

 

He stands up tall…massages his wounds…and after a little while

amidst his sorrow and his sadness…he finds a reason to smile.

 

A good friend once asked him, “How do you do it?

How do you not let your sorrow show?

Is there a secret to your happiness…if so…please let me know.

 

His answer was a simple one…nothing too extreme…

He said, “The key to my happiness has always been in my ability to dream.”

 

“After a dream’s come true or has been shattered…what I’ve always found redeeming…

Is the happiness that exists in the simple act of dreaming.”

 

“When fate hands my dream a disappointment and I feel I’m losing my self-esteem…

as I watch the dream before me fade away…I just dream another dream.”

 

“When a dream is over…good or bad…I’ll take a moment to rejoice…or cry

then I remind myself there are as many dreams as there are stars up in the sky.”

 

“And I’ll choose another star to dreams on…and if that star leads to a scar…

I look back to the heavens…and choose another star.”

 

“I guess what keeps me happy.” He said, “is when each day is through…

I’m not counting all my dreams that have been shattered…

I’m counting all my dreams that have come true.”

 
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THE CHANGING FACE OF DREAMS

Sometimes I think where we end up in life…how high we go…how far…

can be symbolized not only by the family tree…but by the family car.

 

For me it started with my parents driving our family station wagon…it’s interior painted black….Where my initial dreams were fashioned…while riding in the back.

 

My first dreams consisted of a more egocentric point of view…

dreams made just for me…I hoped one day would come true.

 

Then one day my dreams became less conceptual….less fantasy…more real…

The day I went from riding in the back and got behind the wheel.

 

By now I was married driving a mini-van…with an interior painted black…

Wondering what my children were dreaming about while riding in the back.

 

I remember the moment they were born…how I closed my and wished they’d have a happy and healthy life…free from danger…free from heartache…free from sadness…free from strife.

 

And how I began to drive more carefully keeping my wife and children in my rearview…

my dreams now much more focused on helping their dreams to come true.

 

And from a place in the back of my heart and mind…a place no one else could see…

I dreamed of the life my children would be living and the people they would be.

 

Having much more driving experience…I knew what was best for them…at least that’s what I believed…until they got behind the wheel and my vision was replaced by the vision they conceived.

 

And I gladly shed my dreams for theirs…they transformed quite easily…because, looking back, that is exactly what my parents did for me.

 

I realized, as my parents realized, the dangers and sadness of life I can’t keep them from averting…and the best I can do when they’re sad is to stand beside them while they’re hurting.

 

As they continue driving…on their journey…as their own dreams they pursue…

I am happy to sit back, smile…realizing my original dream has come true.

 

That even though I can’t protect them form heartache, sadness and strife…

our children have been able to live a healthy and happy life.

 

For they know on whatever path their dreams may take them….

whenever the road ahead is painted black…

If they look in their rear view mirror 

they’ll see me riding in the back.

 
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PLAYING AMONG THE STARS

 

 

They had the same routine every night before he went to bed…his dad would read him a book, tuck him in…then this is what he said:

 

“May this be the best night you’ve ever had my son of any night so far…may your dreams be filled with wonder as you play among the stars.”

 

One morning he awoke with a smile on his face…remembering the dream he had…and he quickly ran to the breakfast table so he could tell his dad.

 

“Dad! Dad! It finally happened!” he yelled…”I dreamt I played among the stars…

in all my dreams this was the best dream I’ve ever had…by far.

 

In fact I flew right by Venus and Jupiter…stopping on Mars instead…

and when I told her I thought she was beautiful…boy did she turn red.

 

Then I sat for a little while and dangled my feet off of the crescent moon…

listening to the constellation Lyra as she played a pretty tune.

 

As I sat there on the moon I began to feel hotter and hotter and hotter

so I picked up the big dipper and asked Aquarius for some water.

 

I played fetch with Canis Major and Minor…oh how good it felt…

until Orion told me if I didn’t stop…he’d be taking off his belt.

 

I spent some time with the North Star…of all the stars he’s the politest 

and I talked a lot with Sirius..because he is, of course…the brightest.

 

I even rode a shooting star and you might find this hard to understand

but when I woke up in my bed this morning…I found this stardust in my hand.

 

His father smiled at his son’s excitement…then said, son, come with me

there’s something I’ve been holding onto I think it’s time for you see.

 

He opened up a drawer in his bedroom saying. “I too have flown among the stars…

then reaching into the drawer…he pulled out an old and weathered jar.

 

In here is stardust I’ve saved all these years…as hard to believe as it may seem

but when I was your age…years ago…I had a similar dream.

 

I suggest you keep your stardust with you always…he said handing his son a jar..

to be shared with your children…the morning after…they play among the stars.

 

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