The Real Me
I lost a favorite earring
in last night’s dream
I saw my father old
as he would be now
if he hadn’t died in 2005
I dreamt of a shiny dress
that belonged to my mother
I didn’t want to wear it
but wouldn’t give it away
I bought a house by the ocean
with the help of Dr. Phil
and told my crying grandson
not to hold it in
I dreamt a lion in a tree
that pounced and came towards me
I woke before it had a chance
to attack
My husband dreamt that a bear
kept getting in the house
“We have to shoot it,” I said
“I can use one barrel
or I can use two”
I cocked a loaded shotgun
and aimed
_______Colleen Redman / Poets United / Imaginary Garden with Real Toads
November 11th, 2018 11:48 am
An amazing dream. I hope all bears beware, and live to tell the tale.
November 11th, 2018 12:24 pm
For me, the bear represents my fear and, considering that, this is a dream of empowerment that begins and is fought in the dream world. Below is an older dream where I first meet the bear.
Black Bear
A week after burying my father
a large black bear was unleashed
for the purpose of chasing me
in the dirt-floored cellar
of my childhood home
A girl would have fit
through the one small window
in the corner of the locked dark room
where she hid
But it took a woman
to break out the glass
and to dream the fear loose
The bear got in
It always does
The girl’s safe haven
is the woman’s trap
And the only way
the girl and bear
can both be saved
the dreamer
must wake up
November 11th, 2018 1:01 pm
The way you used your dream to bring back the memories of your parents made the dreams real, and the fear of the bear in the end I think stems from being left… (as the death of a parent really is)
November 11th, 2018 1:06 pm
Oh I LOVE that second poem, especially how it ends. Fantastic, Colleen! Thanks for the explanation about the bear representing fear.
November 11th, 2018 1:20 pm
Our dreams often represent what’s stirring inside our subconscious. Such powerful, raw and honest emotions in this poem!
November 11th, 2018 4:16 pm
Dreams are a world of their own! Recently I dreamed I was painting red dots on the mountain.
November 11th, 2018 4:20 pm
The lion and the bear! Of course the lion ran and that bear showed up in another’s dream. The “real you” seems to have moved on with a powerful confidence.
November 11th, 2018 5:09 pm
I have dreams where I’ve met bears, they are powerful in the dreamscape. I usually try to befriend the bear to face the bear. I see much in your dream. Bears bring healing medicines.
November 11th, 2018 5:29 pm
I love how you dreamed about the bear before and its meaning for you! This was so well crafted with so much emotion. Nicely done!
November 11th, 2018 7:42 pm
Interesting how many dream of bears. I had a repeating dream for a while of bears surrounding my house and trying to get in. I didn’t have a shotgun, so I was very afraid. I like the way that your dreams evoked relatives. It seemed so very real.
November 11th, 2018 10:13 pm
What if we embraced fear, hugged it kindly and warmly? Maybe then the fear would be less or no more.
November 12th, 2018 1:58 am
Losing a parent is always a symbolic moment even for adults as that link with the past, the care and nuturing is now gone and you are wholly responsible.
In addition it is the confirmation of your own mortality and each day you have less opportunity to fulfil all your dreams. As for the bears; that is just putting the blame on someone else!
November 12th, 2018 2:27 am
Don’t you just love crazy dreams like that. It’s your subconscious working through things your conscious mind can’t get a handle on yet apparently.
November 12th, 2018 5:53 am
Oh love that close.. that’s the point where you wake up, right…!!!
November 13th, 2018 3:55 pm
This is an interesting dream. A lot of anxiety and fear in this dream. I have never dreamed of bears or lions or tigers…The dream seemed real evoking dead parents.
November 13th, 2018 4:02 pm
Oh, these dreams leave a lasting impression — they feel so real and thus have an impact on our bearings — as you suggest it to be a representation of your fears, the bear motif works so well in creating that sense of unreal reality and the desperate need to safeguard ourselves.
Also, the tie-up with the details about parents in these dreams makes it emotive too.
A lovely poem!
November 13th, 2018 4:16 pm
I love this walk through your dreams and memories. Real life as it goes by…..
November 13th, 2018 5:33 pm
This is a new favorite for me of yours Colleen! An amazing dream poetically shared!
November 13th, 2018 10:38 pm
Nice capture, CR. I’m a fairly prolific dreamer, too, but find that — as age advances — I have less recall, recall fewer details, etc…
November 13th, 2018 11:54 pm
Powerful dreaming and powerful writing.