Because we all want to write more poems.
dream of endless ocean
I dreamed of an endless ocean
viewed from the edge
of a river's delta
emptying out to the sea
in an unlikely waterfall:
cascades of deep green blue,
gulls and eagles circling
above the tide.
I was looking out a window
of a house built at that edge
which was only mine temporarily
due to luck, good fortune.
I gave it to another family
to live in for as long as I would
have it: three weeks.
I ran into that family
at the grocery store the other day,
marveled at their
harmony, husband, wife,
two kids noisy and rambunctious,
a family at peace,
rolling their cart around the store
in a dreamy daze, enjoying
the time together.
So different than I see myself
in my harried shopping visits
with my one kid zipping
away from me to look at things,
trying to climb into the cart,
asking for candy, candy.
In the dream I gave them
the house I'd lucked into
because I thought they deserved it.
The man got out his guitar
and sang a song he'd just written
in appreciation of this gift,
like a love song, but clumsy
because he was trying
not to make it sound
like a love song. It was imperfect,
but charming in its imperfection,
like they are.
Just before I woke
I was telling the wife:
this is a gift,
enjoy it, take ridiculously
long baths, stare at the sea,
eat your dinners near the great windows.
It will be like
dreaming.
- Jennifer Dixey's Shared Poems
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Comments
Benjamin Gorman
March 3, 2012
Permalink
I like this
I think as much for the fantasy as the easy flow of it, the story unfolding. And the last stanza especially. And because I saw a TED video where the presenter was saying it's too late, we've overstretched our planet there's no turning back, all we can do is mitigate the severity of our downfall.
Benjamin Gorman
March 3, 2012
Permalink
suggestions
for clarity, really:
of a house built at that edge/ which I only had temporarily/ due to luck, good fortune.
Which you had? as in had possession/ownership of? I was expecting a completion of the verb, as though "had" was a helper verb, and so I hiccuped at that part, had to re-read.
Then
I'd gifted with the house/ for three weeks.
At first I thought you'd loaned it to them FOR three weeks. But you'd gifted it to them three weeks ago? Unclear to me until the later clarification.
FWIW.
Jennifer Dixey
March 3, 2012
Permalink
Thanks...
For the appreciation, and the suggestions, both. It is an unclear story. I think it can be fixed. It was for three weeks that I'd given it to them (which was as long as I had it). Why? I dunno. Who can explain the logic of dreams?
Jennifer Dixey
March 3, 2012
Permalink
Old Version
Just for posteriority's sake:
I dreamed of an endless ocean
viewed from the edge
of a river's delta
emptying out to the sea
in an unlikely waterfall:
cascades of deep green blue,
gulls and eagles circling
above the tide.
I was looking out a window
of a house built at that edge
which I only had temporarily
due to luck, good fortune.
I was visiting the family
I'd gifted with the house
for three weeks.
I ran into that family
at the grocery store the other day,
marveled at their
harmony, husband, wife,
two kids noisy and rambunctious,
a family at peace,
rolling their cart around the store
in a dreamy daze, enjoying
the time together.
So different than I see myself
in my harried shopping visits
with my one kid zipping
away from me to look at things,
trying to climb into the cart,
asking for candy, candy.
In the dream I gave them
the house I'd lucked into
because I thought they deserved it.
The man got out his guitar
and sang a song he'd just written
in appreciation of this gift,
like a love song, but clumsy
because he was trying
not to make it sound
like a love song. It was imperfect,
but charming in its imperfection,
like they are.
Just before I woke
I was telling the wife:
this is a gift,
enjoy it, take ridiculously
long baths, stare at the sea,
eat your dinners near the great windows.
It will be like
dreaming.