hey dreamer
when did your dream become a to-do list?
a series of boxes to be checked?
when did that big, airy wonder
shrivel down to a sheet of paper?
hey dreamer
when did your dream become a memory?
an old photograph?
a distant crackle on the radio
reminding you of long-gone days?
hey dreamer
when did it become a mirage?
a trick of the light?
a shimmer of bitter possibility
in a strangely cold desert of reality?
hey dreamer
when did it become a burden?
a ten-ton weight laid across your shoulders?
a crushing suffocation
measuring your spine and timing your steps?
hey dreamer
when did it become a secret?
a well-worn hideaway?
a crumpled little trinket
you keep in a box hidden under the bed?
hey dreamer
when did the fire in your heart become the fire at your heels?
when did now lose its luster to back then?
when did someday become maybe become never?
when did summer-light wings turn to lead?
when did your banner fray and fade?
hey dreamer
can you tell me when?
tell me why?
i wish you’d remember
recall
recollect
gather up
stir up
cradle close to your chest:
the joy
the joy of the dream that once put a sword in your hand and the stars in your eyes
the wonder of the thing that pulled you around every expectant corner
the beat in your chest so loud and so hard some days that the joy of it all just hurt
hey dreamer . . .
it’s still there, you know
you can find it again
I can dig it. As I often do, I read it aloud in a random voice, and the voice reminded me of the villain from the film No Country for Old Men. Have you seen it? It would be pretty terrifying to actually hear the villain read it, slowly, smiling.
No, I haven't seen that one. LOL, I wasn't really going for a villainous spin on this, but I guess that would be pretty creepy. 😛
That is amazing. You wrote this so beautifully!
-Mikayla-
Awww, thank you, Mikayla! ^_^
currently listening to a song titled 'Dream Catcher'. How fitting!
That was a lovely and insightful piece. Thank you for sharing!
"Coincidence? I think NOT!" (Ahem, don't mind the Incredibles quote…)
Thanks, Blue! <3
Wow Tracey I needed this. On so many levels and so many lines hit me right in the heart. You have a twisting descriptive way of writing that leaves the heart convicted and determined to change.
Thank you so so so much for writing this xxx
Oh, Anna, that makes my heart happy to hear! Keep on dreaming, no matter how hard it gets. <3
This is amazing and perfect and I need to print it out and stick it on my wall. <3 <3 Thank you, Tracey!
– Jem Jones
D'awww, Jem! That's a huge compliment! There's only a small handful of blog posts I've ever printed out, myself. 🙂
Thank you. This was beautiful. I needed this so much.
I'm so glad it came at a good time, Faith! <3
Beautiful as always, Tracey!
Thanks ever so much, Skye! *hugs*
*sighs dreamily* That was gorgeous. I love your poetry. ^_^
Madeline, you're so sweet! Thank you! ^___^
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<33333333333333
*heart soaring and breaking, laughing and crying inside at once*
i… i… don't even, can't explain what this means
having no words but thank you for this beautiful thing tracey
*crushes you in a giant bear hug*
I don't even have words to properly RESPOND to that, Deb! <33333333 You're amazing.
*hugs back*
I'm not amazing is kind of the point of this, but I USED to want to be, and now I want to try again. ^_^ <333
Doing amazing and being amazing are two entirely different things (and for the record, I'm still trying to get that difference through my skull!). So regardless, you ARE amazing. <333
But I know what you're getting at with wanting to try again and start fresh–and to that I say, you go, girl!!!
Wonderful. Just… wonderful. *applause*
Awww, thank you, Abbey! 🙂
This is too relevant to me right now haha. XD Great piece!
storitorigrace.blogspot.com
That makes two of us, then. Thank you! ^_^
Beautiful. Simply… everything I've been feeling lately.
Thanks, Jenelle! You and me both. 🙂
This is so beautiful, Tracey! I'm astonished by your talent for words and how they can just perfectly hit home. I love this so, so much. <3
Oh, Katie, you're so sweet! Thank you. <333
<3
<333
a crushing suffocation
measuring your spine and timing your steps?
^My fave lines. That captures the feeling so perfectly of being weighed down, of being pixellated into someone else's expectations. Love it.
Trust Emily to hone in on favorite lines of poetry! 😉 And pixelated! Your verb choice is stunning, as always. Thank you!
That is beautiful. And really made me think and open up new questions. Thank you.
Thank you, Vera! That's what I strive for. ^_^
omw love this <3 sorry for late comment xD I was going back thru my feed to see what I had missed commenting on and saw this and I was like, "oh yeah I knew I was missing something." I think you nailed it <333
lisa
D'aww, thanks, Lisa! <3 No such thing as a late comment–I love them all.
I love this!!!
Aww, thanks! 😀
Wow, this is wonderful.
Thank you, Lucy! Sweet of you to say. ^_^
Wow…That was beautiful!! You have a way with words (as you might already know, considering you're a writer).
Kayleen! I've been missing you!!! 😀 Thanks so much, girl. Glad you enjoyed it!
How have you been lately??
Oh, Tracey. I…I have no words. I'm literally near to tears. Not even joking. I just…I NEEDED THIS. I can't even express to you how much I needed this at this very moment.
That first part hit me so hard I think I PHYSICALLY felt it. Because I have been turning my dreams into to-do lists. They ARE a series of boxes to be checked and usually my dreams are a BURDEN these days. So this hit so, so, SO hard. Because it's actually something I've been thinking about! And then I came and read this and it was like God Himself whispering to me to take JOY in my dreams. To just enjoy the journey and stop stressing about it all. Just take it a day at a time and have fun, instead of worrying about getting things done or that being published will never happen and being burdened by all the stress.
I've already read this three times and want to read it again and again and again. And oh my word, IS IT BEAUTIFUL. "when did summer-light wings turn to lead?" *clutches heard* I just want to soak up these gorgeous words and cling to them forever.
THANK YOU, TRACEY. Thank you so much! I'm seriously about to cry. I needed this so bad. I WILL go find the joy of my dreams again. Because what's the point on working toward something if we just turn it into a burden? GAH. THANK YOOOUUU!!! *huuuugs*
Awww, Christine! <3 Isn't it funny how God works? Because your comment today came right when *I* needed it. It was one of those trying-to-juggle-everything-and-not-having-time-for-dreams kind of days. So hearing all of that in your words was just the reminder I needed. (Reminds of your latest post, talking about how we seem to need to learn the same lesson 13420948 times.)
I'm so guilty of that myself! And of course we NEED goals–discipline is a healthy thing. But not when we become our own slave-drivers. Yes, yes, yes: enjoying the journey is another one of those things I relearn over and over! It's counterintuitive, but I suspect the more joy we take in the process, the faster (and better!) we'll actually get it done.
Three times? Oh goodness! GIRL, YOU'RE TOO SWEET. *hugs* <333 I so, so agree–"what's the point on working toward something if we just turn it into a burden?" Let's rediscover the joy together, okay? ^_^
wow. this was beautiful. I mean is beautiful. I really felt like I was relating to it… life is crazy. I still have my dreams… but right now I am working for them so hard I forget their beauty as I'm swamped with, "Just let me sleep."
Thank you, Keturah! In a way, I'm sorry it's relatable, because I wish it wasn't–but in another way, I'm glad, because then we know we're not alone in this.
I know the feeling of working too hard (and needing sleep!). I hope we both can let go enough to relax this weekend. <3
Oh my word, Tracey. I am floored. Like … wow. CAN I PUT THIS ON MY WALL??? PLEASE?? That was so beautiful and I might be about to go read it again and again and just sob like a baby. Thank you so so much for this aklsdfjlhasdkjfh <3
Hannah, you've officially made my day! If you want to hang it on your wall, GO FOR IT. I would be honored! You keep dreaming those dreams, okay? *hugs*
I've literally been refreshing this page since Sunday 😛 THANK YOU SO MUCH. Are you sure you don't mind? Cause I really want to. I've had it on a loop in my mind and even have a portion of it memorized now. IT'S JUST SO BEAUTIFUL. My favorite part is, "When did the fire in your heart become the fire at your heels? When did now lose its luster to back then? When did now become maybe become never? When did summer light wings turn to lead?" Just … SO BEAUTIFUL *sobs*
Ack, I'm sorry to make you wait! Do I mind?! HANNAH, I AM COMPLETELY DELIGHTED AND BLOWN AWAY THAT YOU WANT TO HANG IT UP. I'm serious. If this poem really does encourage you that much, then putting it where you can see it and remind yourself to keep that fire…that's more than I imagined would come out of sharing this post with all of you.
You're a beautiful person. Thanks for encouraging ME! <3