Summary

The website content is a reflective piece where the author shares a personal poem about the cyclical nature of life and dreams, emphasizing the importance of protecting and nurturing all forms of life.

Abstract

The author presents a poem titled "a poem| of life |on repeat," which encapsulates the recurring and shared nature of dreams, particularly the dream of life. This poem is a revisited and updated version of the author's first-ever poem. The author reminisces about writing these lines during a period of personal awakening and slowing down. The poem's significance is underscored by the author's contemplation of tattooing its essence on their body and sharing it across various platforms. The verses reflect the author's belief in the fundamental right to life and the continuous struggle for rights across different movements. The author expresses a sense of failure in humanity's duty to protect life, from human rights to the environment and all living organisms. Despite this, there is hope that humanity can still correct its course and live in harmony with the world. The author acknowledges that they may not witness this change but takes solace in not being alone in their dream for a better future. The piece concludes with a personal note about the author's lifestyle and an invitation to read another related piece.

Opinions

The author believes in the inherent right to life for all beings and the duty of humans, as the most intelligent species, to protect and nurture life.
There is a strong opinion that humanity has failed in its responsibility to safeguard life, including human rights, animal rights, and environmental protection.
The author suggests that the concept of "collateral damage" is an unacceptable justification for the harm caused by human actions.
Despite the current state of affairs, the author maintains hope that there is still time for humanity to address and correct the harm done to the world.
The author expresses a personal desire to live in balance with the environment, drawing on ancient wisdom and physical laws as evidence for the necessity of harmony.
The author is skeptical about witnessing a significant change in their lifetime but continues to dream and live by their ideals.
The author values sharing thoughts and dreams over financial gain, indicating a philosophy of life that prioritizes intangible wealth over monetary success.

a poem| of life |on repeat

a poet’s dream

my first ever poem — repeated — updated

I dream the dream a dream that’s been dreamed before a dream to be dreamed again the dream of life

I share the dream: that’s been dreamed before that will be dreamed again the dream I share? the dream of life

thoughts behind the piece

I wrote these lines a few years ago, when I woke up as some may say, a phrase relating to a thought that I understand and share, when I took time out and when I first started to slow down.

I’ve been reminded of them three times recently so I decided to re-write them on Medium, it seems right given that it’s where I’m storing most of my thoughts. Anyway...

For me, these simple lines say so much. At the time I even contemplated putting a tattoo on each arm to remind me. Down one forearm, I dream the dream, on the other, I live the dream. I even put a slightly longer version on-line on YouTube.

The thought is rooted in the right of all to life, it reflects the history I saw repeated time after time of people fighting for their rights, the right to vote, the right to be treated as a human being. From the rights of women, the civil rights movement in the US, to animal rights. Rights that despite legislative changes still have not been won, roots run deep.

I believe that human beings as the most intelligent species on earth should have a duty of responsibility to protect and nurture life, all life.

I believe that we have failed, time and time, again in this duty.

I believe that we are still failing, even amongst our own kind.

I believe we are failing abysmally in the animal world, the insect world and yes the world of the micro-organism let alone those areas where life is perhaps directly more questionably — the general pollution of the air, the seas and the earth.

To my eye, we constantly act in haste, with little thought or care of the consequences, perhaps the expression I detest most — ‘collateral damage’, such smart words that hide an ultimate truth

damage is damage.

Ultimately, I believe we still have time to address and correct our ways and the harm we have done and to live more in balance with our world, our environment. To my eyes, living in harmony, in balance is an absolute truth, it is evident in physics, it is evident in the wisdom of man over the centuries — Egyptian weighing of the heart being one of the earliest examples.

With regret, I don’t think I’ll live to see the day. I’m not sure that day will even come. However, I know that I am not alone, and I shall continue to dream the dream, and live it as best I can.

photo: my own, my feet and those of my son — trying to stand on the night sky

and finally

I’ve also rewritten this piece as a compliment to the Poet’s wish, which if you like this you may like to read too

A poet’s wish

or perhaps a dream, the poet’s dream?

medium.com

These days I busk for a living so if you like the thoughts I share freely I’m glad. If you really like them you can always buy me a coffee and we’ll share a toast to our good health, https://ko-fi.com/bottomatt, but don’t feel the need as I don’t care much for money, it’s a necessity for sure, but one I can do without -I’m one of the lucky ones.

You won’t find me within any publications other than my own ‘blogs’, not unless I change my mind, which is always possible in time. My reasons? I recall a conversation I once had with a guy about tents to whom I replied:

I prefer to sleep under the stars, come out and join me if you wish.

a reply that irritated him greatly at the time, and I can understand why, but as a man who sees himself as one of billions, I can’t help that. A view, I know, which can easily be mistaken for arrogance, but I know it is not — it is so much more than that.