from 'Dreams and Visions'
I returned in dream
to New York City.
From my favorite view
in Brooklyn Heights
I looked through picture window
on lower Manhattan—
its buildings tiptoe tall
the sky above benevolent blue—
some few small puffy clouds
in its embrace.
In a little boat
I toured the harbor—
sunny as a Renoir painting—
and saw a man who leapt
from water like a dolphin!
I needed place to stay
and there was Ken with minivan
and room for more!
We'd park somewhere
and sleep in van...
I woke and thought
'A man who leapt like dolphin?
Swim East River sludge?
Just park somewhere and sleep in van
in New York City! ? '
But the feeling of the dream
keeps on resurfacing—
like a pushed-down buoy then let up
like a smiling dolphin
leaping from its sunny waters.
Yes, what a gift! (Reminds me of my old student poem The Lifting) . I love the image of the doliphin's smiling face jumping out at you to awaken you from that soporific depression. Miles to go before I sleep... Actually, I did read this one before. By the way, did you know I wrote some poems about the Bronx recently?
the dream, and this poem which describes, was indeed a gift to my psyche. thank you for reading it again and taking the time to comment... i did read one of your bronx poems which reminded me of my poem it was just 15th street. -glen
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
The sight of the dolphin leaping out the water brings immediate delight, and it does as a dream image, or as a man leaping like dolphin. It's as if your dream mind found a basic dream motif and then varied it and repeated it. You are energized again and again. It's an indirect way of confronting a problem. Perhaps that's why it worked. This is a positive poem and that comes out strongly in repeated readings.
thanks, daniel. the dream lifted my soul at a needed time. and it still makes me smile. (: ]) ] -glen