My Favorite Poem When I was Younger
Dreams
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow
--Langston Hughes
I just remembered that when I was a little boy, perhaps in third or fourth grade, I loved this poem and was really moved by it. I do not know how I feel about it now, though. The message of the poem- which is essentially that we should never give up hope and forget about our dreams- I believe is well-intentioned, and I agree with to a point. However- this can have a destructive effect, it seems to me. It is funny he uses the imagery of a barren field frozen by snow and ice- because that is exactly what I would think happens when people realize that they can't realize their dreams- when they see their whole lifes go by without being able to do what they want. There is a fine line between dreams and hopes and unrealistic longing for something that will never happen. I cross this line alot, or at least I think. My mother and sister are people, I think, that have totally unrealistic goals and expectations; and then never cna enjoy anything. But thn again, what do I know? Maybe I'm wrong.
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow
--Langston Hughes
I just remembered that when I was a little boy, perhaps in third or fourth grade, I loved this poem and was really moved by it. I do not know how I feel about it now, though. The message of the poem- which is essentially that we should never give up hope and forget about our dreams- I believe is well-intentioned, and I agree with to a point. However- this can have a destructive effect, it seems to me. It is funny he uses the imagery of a barren field frozen by snow and ice- because that is exactly what I would think happens when people realize that they can't realize their dreams- when they see their whole lifes go by without being able to do what they want. There is a fine line between dreams and hopes and unrealistic longing for something that will never happen. I cross this line alot, or at least I think. My mother and sister are people, I think, that have totally unrealistic goals and expectations; and then never cna enjoy anything. But thn again, what do I know? Maybe I'm wrong.