What messages do you bring
in the fogginess of my sleep
where my subconscious awakens
and begins to creep?
This morning someone appeared
from my past and ignored
my pleas for help.
Anger and fear welled
up as if you were still here
in my waking life.
My insecurities are outlined
in vivid scenes that I thought
long gone and put to rest.
But no, they stir up anxiety
and dread and splinter my heart
that pierces deep.
I cry out awakening in tears.
Terror has overcome me
as unseen, faceless
entities chase and
I awaken gasping and sweaty.
Recently I awoke with a jolt
from feeling as though suffocating
my breath faltering, failing me.
Uneasiness stayed most of the day.
But some dreams do bring reprieve
and I’ve awakened giggling.
I think I like those the best.
And flying–when I push off
from the earth and I’m suddenly
in-flight sailing effortlessly
through the sky.
Never too high though
just enough to float above
the tree tops—a low soaring.
I’ve excelled at martial arts,
fallen from terrifying heights
and survived without a bump.
I’ve dreamt things that have
come true and others
of pure nonsense.
I’ve been back to my
childhood, running through
neighbors’ backyards.
I can even wake myself up
when weary of the vision
at hand or the nightmare
that has gripped me for too long.
For that I am grateful.
But what am I to gain
from the illusions
provoked by my brain?
Do I pay them heed
or leave them slumbering?
Join us for Open Link Night where Grace hosts over at dVerse Poets Pub.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
/ February 6, 2020I find that dreams are a mystery. Most of my dreams (that I remember) are nightmares, maybe because they make me wake up 🙂
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Bodhirose
/ February 6, 2020I have my fair share of nightmares too and yes, I agree, many dreams are a mystery but then there are some where I’m very clear as to what they’re trying to tell me.
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Anonymous
/ February 6, 2020Lovely as usual. Bring to share after our event. B
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Bodhirose
/ February 6, 2020Hi Barbara, thank you. I sure will bring it to share.
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Glenn A. Buttkus
/ February 6, 2020A dreamscape to treasure. I like the notion that when we fly in our dreams, it’s a low soaring. I don’t know what the psychological like is to flying, but I haven’t flown for decades, and I do miss it. So nice to read you again. We miss you around the Pub.
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Bodhirose
/ February 6, 2020Flying too high would be too scary so I’m glad that I’m closer to the ground in my dreams. 🙂 I don’t fly that often either but it’s always so exhilarating when I do. Thanks for the nice compliment, Glenn. It’s nice to be missed.
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kim881
/ February 6, 2020I agree with Bjorn – dreams are a mystery. I too have woken up giggling and haven’t a clue what at. I also dream about the places where I spent most of my childhood, and frequently wake up with lines of poetry, complete poems or stories.
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Bodhirose
/ February 6, 2020Some of my dreams I can very clearly tell the meaning but some are just a mishmash of images that I can’t make meaning out of at all. I wish I were like you upon waking with complete poems or stories just ready to write down! What a gift, Kim.
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whippetwisdom
/ February 6, 2020It’s so lovely to see you on the trail again Gayle and you capture how real a dream can feel and continue to move us so well in your poem. It often shows us where healing is needed and where to send the light in these moments 💜 xxx
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Bodhirose
/ February 6, 2020Thanks so much, Xenia, so nice to visit with you and the others and share something again. It feels good. I agree with you too about much of what we dream about needing light and healing. I have seen that very clearly with my own. xoxo
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Colleen@ LOOSELEAFNOTES
/ February 6, 2020Our secret life where we are so bold and vulnerable. I welcome them all. The are direct and inform me, always feel like gifts.
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Bodhirose
/ February 6, 2020Yes, bold and vulnerable, well put. And it’s good to welcome them all too. Gifts and messages…pay attention.
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msjadeli
/ February 6, 2020Gayle, it sounds like you have a good strong tap sunk into the dream world as you can remember a lot of them. Jungian psychoanalyst Clarissa Pinkola-Estes calls dreams, “letters from home.” Dreams are worth trying to read, especially the “big” ones.
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Bodhirose
/ February 6, 2020Thank you. I know that writer that you speak of. I especially pay attention to the dreams that really stay with me…there’s definitely a message that I need to “get.” And those are the “big” ones.
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msjadeli
/ February 6, 2020You’re welcome and I’m glad you know her.
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Gina
/ February 6, 2020Sometimes sleep does not bring
respite from life’s suffering
this line resonated with me, sometimes falling asleep is like entering another world, one I have no control
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Bodhirose
/ February 6, 2020It’s true. Sometimes there’s more drama in the sleeping world than the awake one. I do agree too that sleeping puts us into another realm of which there is no control…much like our awake one. 😦
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Gina
/ February 6, 2020Much truth there Gayle🙏.
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Frank Hubeny
/ February 6, 2020I often hope sleep is more healing. Good observation: “Sometimes sleep does not bring
respite from life’s suffering.”
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Bodhirose
/ February 6, 2020I think that healing sleep is when you don’t feel disturbed all night long and don’t remember a thing until your eyes spring open in the morning. Ah, peaceful, restful sleep. Thanks, Frank.
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sanaarizvi
/ February 6, 2020This is such an eloquent write, Gayle. I believe dreams are products of our subconscious .. and resonate with; “And flying–when I push off from the earth and I’m suddenly in-flight sailing effortlessly through the sky.” 💝
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Bodhirose
/ February 6, 2020Thank you, Sanaa, I appreciate that. Yes, our subconscious is trying to tell us something but the “what” is sometimes a huge mystery. 🙂
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Arcadia Maria
/ February 6, 2020As someone who finds herself questioning things seen in dreams, this poem hits home. Eloquent and very well written.
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Bodhirose
/ February 6, 2020I question those things seen in dreams too…some are very clear others are muddied. Thank you for your kind compliment and it’s nice to see you again.
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erbiage
/ February 6, 2020you captured the feel of certain dreams here.
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Bodhirose
/ February 6, 2020Thank you, erbiage. I tried to convey that dreamlike quality.
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rivrvlogr
/ February 6, 2020Give heed to the dreams that are most welcome. Consider from a distance those that trouble you.
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Bodhirose
/ February 6, 2020Good advice…thanks much.
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oldegg
/ February 7, 2020Dreams are but idle games the brain plays when you have no need for it to make decisions for you and is filling its time until you wake again!
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Bodhirose
/ February 7, 2020You know as much as we humans like to over analyze and complicate things, you very well could be right, oldegg!
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Grace
/ February 9, 2020Dreams are a mystery to me and now I can’t remember any of them when I wake up. But dreams tell me about myself, and shows a part of my hidden self that i may want to listen to. Good to see you again Gayle. Hope you are well.
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Bodhirose
/ February 9, 2020Many of my dreams are a mystery too but some have very clear messages that connect to my waking life. There’s a connection between the two somehow. Good to see you and join with dVerse again, Grace. Thank you!
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