I dreamt of Autumn leaves in Summer:
a row of tall beech trees along the road
to Dalston, blazing yellow, and a woman said,
‘It starts like this: they’ll pray tomorrow
and in a few more years, we’ll all be dead.’
I dreamt of seasons turning upside-down
and blood-red furrows fouled the sodden plow
and all of this to those in power was known:
how it was then, and how it would be now.
I dreamt my child was climbing redbrick stairs
to look out on the sunset, on the sea
and I could hardly curb my mother’s fears
that he should fall, and so be lost to me:
We’ve ignored Nature’s warning signs so long
is all she’ll have to say to prove us wrong.
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Sharing with earthweal
This is a true account of a dream I had a few days ago. I do hope its more a reflection of my current anxieties than a premonition! Sharing with earthweal’s Open Link Weekend #124.
Such a poignant poem on a sad day Ingrid.. Did you see me in reader today? I think WP gremlins are playin again. 🤷♀️🤷♀️
Hi Cindy! You are on my reader, don’t worry…just playing catch-up 😅 🏃♀️❤️
Thanks a lot for letting me know. It appears I am for some and not for others.
💕❤️
What a wonderful, vivid dream, recorded eloquently in your poem, Ingrid. It does seem to be a message from Mother Nature! 🙂
Thank you, Cheryl: I do hope it’s not too late!
Love the nature of this poem! It is sad, poignant, and definitely bittersweet, yet the imagery rises easily to mind. <3
Thank you Jaya 🍂
Love this touching piece, Ingrid. Amazing imagery. Wonderful.💕
Thank you Grace 💕
My pleasure .💕
What we do impact on our children.
Undoubtedly!
Hopefully not all dreams come true Ingrid …
I hope so 😳
I would be very worried if I had a young child. I have young grandchildren. This is a beautiful way of expressing a dream. We can only hope to slow down global warming. Thank you 🦋hugs and happy weekend to your family. 🦋
Thank you, Joni: we must start by loving and appreciating the natural world 🌱❤️
The earth has been warning us for a long time. I think we all have anxieties for the world our children are inheriting–even in the best of times we fear for their well-being.. The vision of the trees is so poignant. (K)
Thank you, Kerfe – the seasons do seem to be blurring…
A beautiful poem, the last two lines of which are so beautiful, sad, and true. Wonderful poetry, Ingrid. 🌎
Thank you, Jeff – I wonder when we will start to care for our world!
Timeless writing of today Ingrid.
Thank you Eric 🙏
Love how you’ve incorporated the voice of the woman into the poem…
Thank you, Rajani – that’s how it was in the dream.
Beautifully written lament of what we are losing, Ingrid.
Thank you Marion 🙏
A lot comes to us in dreams. I listen. Be well, dear one. Xoxo
Thanks Selma: you too 🍁
Very alarming…
It was rather!
There is so much to love about your poem and about your dream. I’m sure there is an important “message from home” for you within it.
I imagine there must be…thank you Lisa 😊
You’re most welcome.
This poem beautifully expresses the time we are living in…..with our human hopes and fears, the beauty all around, and the downward spiral towards an uncertain future – all at the same time. Your images are so powerful, especially the child climbing, and the mother’s fear.
Thank you, Sherry – it is all swirling around my head somehow!
This is so beautifully written, Ingrid–like the world, beautiful but sad.
I fear for my children and any grandchildren I may have. The earth is being destroyed and our rights are being taken away.
Worrying times, but we persevere!
Indeed, Ingrid. 💙
I enjoyed this! Thank you for sharing. I, too, write poetry and haiku based on my dreams.
My pleasure!
This is beautiful in its simplicity and vivid images. I love the verse about watching a child climb a brick red stair. If anxiety dreams result in this creativity they are to be welcomed!
That is a good way to regard them! Thank you Deborah 🙏