Quote for the soul
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” —Harriet Tubman
Tag Archives: dreams
Art as poerty by melba christie
78 days – Calm enough to write a poem today
Uncut
like a wildflower hidden
among the wild weeds,
Life continues.
We still exist.
We will survive all eventually.
Perennial dreams
continue to inspire
some people,
somewhere,
somehow.
I wonder who they are though.
Peace yearns to be spoken about out loud.
I yearn for peace and calm again.
I want to know
how to tell if
my heart is still whole.
How wise am I
when I still believe in hope?
Should I believe that all this craziness will end?
Am I out of mind?
We are all paying a very high price now.
No money in the world will wash away the pain.
But still I remain,
and hum the glorious with refrain,
that asks all of us
to “imagine”.
I still dream profoundly
because heaven does not sleep.
It keep my dreams
floating among the purest clouds
and it shapes into the pillows
that rest my weary head.
Some words were borrowed from different poems and blog posts.
Images by Pixabay
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Haiku by Shushiki
Quote from “A Dream Within A Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe
I recently had a ‘dream within a dream’. I do not know how I was lead to this poem by Edgar Allan Poe. He is one of my favorite poets and moreover a great storyteller. However I had never read this poem or at least I do not recall ever having read it. I found it as I was reading an old anthology. My “dream within a dream” was more of a nightmare. I would like to share a few stanzas from the poem. For me it was an eye opener. I hope you enjoy it. Please leave a comment.
Yet if Hope has flown away
In a night or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
is but a dream within a dream.
And I hold within my hand
grains of the golden sand –
How few! yet how they creep
through my fingers
to the deep,
while I weep,
while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
but a dream within a dream?
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Dream Catcher
Scared hoop catch my dream
and fill my heart with hope
sunshine through my window
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Visit From An Ancestor
Grandmother was a young girl
when an ancestor visited her.
A gentle man from her third heritage
with a wooden flute in hand
played a pleasing tune
a soothing sound
to which she gently swayed.
She asked him where he’d come from,
and how he found his way,
He said a butterfly mapped the route
and he followed the nightingale’s song
but most of all it was the love
that still lived in our home.
His voice faded slowly away
and he suddenly disappeared
as mysteriously as he came.
The sun shone through
and she awoke
and nothing was ever the same.
Grandmother always said she’d hear
the flute in the distance every now and then.
Some days she’d secretly hoped he visit her again.
The day she passed I heard the flute
and a songbird sing softly in my ear.
I knew then everything would be fine.
Because love is what it is
and it lives right here with me.
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Dreams
“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.”
-Edgar Allan Poe
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The Pope of Hope
As most people here in the Tri-State area, we have seen the presentations and masses pronounced by Pope Francis of the the Holy Seas and many of us have been deeply touched by his message of Love and Peace. This is my poem to honor his visit. I also tried painting his friendly face with all due respect.
Skies of crystal blue prevailed today
As the Pope of Hope
Like Jesus did walked among us
Even for those who were not too close
deep emotions did not fail
to energize and fill all hearts
with glory and hopeful dreams
As he waved to thousands
On what now will be the Holy urban trail
Worshipers screamed,
called out his name,
and cried sweet tears
for this Pope of the People
had washed away their fears.
For many today
Life will not be the same
History records impatiently
The sounds and sights today
Pope Francis of the Holy Sea
Prays for you and me and
For even the non-believer
All he wants is Peace to be a reality.
He asked us all to restore our hope
To resolve our differences with respect
For we must live as one
He asked us all to educate the young.
Future generations
must learn the lessons well;
To build our oneness
and fraternal love,
To restore a Nation of Freedom for all
This is our divine call.
He said to Remember the Golden Rule.
Our faces may be different yes
But our hearts beat all the same
Some filled with passion and compassion
Love can only be our gain.
Thank you Pope Francisco of the Holy Sea
for your humble presence and
your words of inspiration.
With Gratitude and Remembrance
I think we will see clearly now,
And forever more.
No more smog or clouds
to block our vision and sincere affirmations
For deep down in our hearts
We know this to be true
United we stand
and in God We Trust.
God bless America
and Pope Francis,
God bless you too.
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Existence
Existence
Where we are
by far
defines our existence.
But where are we really?
Are we here, in the now, in the present?
Or are we not in existence?
Are we in our own imagination?
A figment?
I like to think I am
inside this painting;
going around in circles
without a worry,
the universe embracing me
until I become a wave.
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Crazy Dream
I read somewhere that in order to diversify your themes and topics for writing poetry or stories,you should write down the things you dream about as soon as you awake. Last night was full of pleasant dreams for the most part. I have mentioned before my dreams are usually colorful and many times surreal. My dream last night was about my mother who passed away about twenty-two years ago. In this dream she was very chatty. We sat alongside sipping from our favorite mugs. I still have hers.
The second part of my dream took place in this beautiful but surreal garden. I could actually smell the essential fragrances of the flowers and herbs. I felt like I was at a spa. The colors blended and kind of melted into each other. Some of the plants and flowers actually spoke to me but I cannot remember any of It.
I started painting what I remembered right away. Please send me your opinion and comments; I just love when I get comments.
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Haiku # 109
I Imagined
Image and poem by Melba Christie (c) 2015
I Imagined
In a vivid dream
I imagined a world
at peace at last
http://www.centralpark.com/guide/attractions/strawberry-fields.html
http://www.strawberryfieldsthetribute.com/
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My Dream and His: My Favorite Quotes
My Favorite Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Quotes
Every year for as long as I was a teacher, quotes would be posted all over my classroom during this time of year especially but all year as well. I would ask students to think about the quote and to talk about what Dr. King was saying within the given context or circumstances. I think many of my students were inspired and it was amazing to me what they said sometimes.
Every time one or two students would challenge me and ask me tough questions as well. Many times students would express disappointment and despair because they felt that nothing had really changed as a result of the Civil Rights Movement and Dr. King’s dream. Many were pessimistic and I could not blame them. I tried very hard to convince them that they were the change.
I hope that some of them remember how much I believed in the dream. I like to think that I planted a seed in their hearts and brains. As I thought about my former students today, I found myself writing a poem for them. The celebration would not be complete if I would not post some of my favorite quotes.
Here is the poem:
The Dream
I woke up from a real deep sleep
the warmth of the sun on my face
a promise for a better human race
was a part of my dream
I fell asleep again
to witness history
a token for our collective memory
We walked together side by side
Hand in hand with so much pride
The whole world knew Dr. King had died
His widow and small children
Lead the way
They still stand tall today
King eulogized himself that day
His last sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church
was played
the famous ‘Drum Major’ sermon,
he’d given on February 4, 1968.
I will never forget the date.
Sadness spread throughout the land
for the Peace Prize Winner and Holy man
we could not help but to remember
the dream he had for us all.
John Lewis, Jesse Jackson and
Andrew Young would remain
To follow in his footsteps
To ensure his dream comes true
His distinct voice stronger than ever
grew in their heads.
His last speech echoed
And repeated like a refrain
“I don’t know what will happen now;
we’ve got some difficult days ahead.
But it really doesn’t matter to with me now,
because I’ve been to the mountaintop…
I’ve seen the Promised Land.
I may not get there with you.
I’m not worried about anything;
I’m not fearing any man.
Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the coming of the Lord.”
In the dream I saw your faces
(My students of yesteryear)
Pop up before me from different spaces
and as your teacher, I tell you now
Do not let the dream fall down
Keep it alive!
Keep it alive with your actions and deeds.
To my students: I wish you all God’s speed.
My Favorite Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Quotes
“I’ve seen too much hate to want to hate, myself, and every time I see it, I say to myself, hate is too great a burden to bear. Somehow we must be able to stand up against our most bitter opponents and say: We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will and we will still love you…. But be assured that we’ll wear you down by our capacity to suffer, and one day we will win our freedom. We will not only win freedom for ourselves; we will appeal to your heart and conscience that we will win you in the process, and our victory will be a double victory.”
“Violence never really deals with the basic evil of the situation. Violence may murder the murderer, but it doesn’t murder murder. Violence may murder the liar, but it doesn’t murder lie; it doesn’t establish truth. Violence may even murder the dishonest man, but it doesn’t murder dishonesty. Violence may go to the point of murdering the hater, but it doesn’t murder hate. It may increase hate. It is always a descending spiral leading nowhere. This is the ultimate weakness of violence: It multiplies evil and violence in the universe. It doesn’t solve any problems.”
“We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.”
”I am convinced that love is the most durable power in the world. It is not an expression of impractical idealism, but of practical realism. Far from being the pious injunction of a Utopian dreamer, love is an absolute necessity for the survival of our civilization. To return hate for hate does nothing but intensify the existence of evil in the universe. Someone must have sense enough and religion enough to cut off the chain of hate and evil, and this can only be done through love.”
“If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That’s a new definition of greatness.”
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The Christmas Eve Flower
I suppose I should have posted this piece a few days ago. But Christmas day is as a good a day as any really. But it is so appropriate because I had this great dream just last night, Christmas Eve.
I use the Poinsettia plant to decorate the house at Christmas. I love the traditional red hue poinsettia but of course they are all beautiful. “Indigenous to Mexico and South America the flower traveled to Egypt and is even cultivated there since 1860.”
I am always intrigued by how flowers grow in certain regions. I know the climate and landscape has a lot to do with it of course but I think there is more to it. The story behind the traditional Poinsettia stems from the wish of a little girl to be able to give gifts on the day we celebrate the birth of Christ. The story says that a girl named Pepita, inspired by the visit of an angel, gathered weeds and placed on a church altar. Miraculously the Poinsettia blossomed. “The flower, shaped like a star became to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem.”
So back to my dream last night; I always dream in Technicolor. I tell everyone this. In my dream, I found myself in a field surrounded by the little red stars we call Poinsettia. My mother would say that if you want a plant to grow well and have a long life you should talk to it. In my dream I spoke to them and one asked me to make my Christmas wishes. I asked for (yes, this might sound corny) Peace. I asked for a cure for Cancer especially but also for a few other diseases like Diabetes. These ills run rampant in my family. Then, I saw Poinsettias shine brighter and I felt hopeful.
Poinsettia can last a long time if cared for appropriately. My friend Rafaela cared for her Poinsettia and she had them all year round. She was a miracle worker anyway. She always found time to make people feel happy. I have not heard from her in a long time. We lost touch many years ago after she suffered a family tragedy and moved away without leaving any address or phone number. I hope she is well. She inspired my post today. She too loved Poinsettia and would fill the office with them. It changed the ambiance for sure.
So the next time you see or purchase a Poinsettia plant think about the possibilities. Merry Christmas!!!
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