Haunted Dreams

and I’m awake
because my great great grandchildren
won’t let me sleep
my great great grandchildren
ask me in dreams
what did you do while the planet was plundered?
what did you do when the earth was unraveling?

surely you did something
when the seasons started failing?

as the mammals, reptiles, birds were all dying?

did you fill the streets with protest
when democracy was stolen?

what did you do
once
you
knew?

From Drew Dillinger’s  poem hieroglyphic stairway

I don’t often reflect much on dreams, or their meanings, especially the weird ones. What creates those? But this weekend I celebrated my granddaughters 14th birthday. It seems like it was only a few months ago that she was turning 13. Not that long ago when I could hold her and have her overcome her baby reflux and fall asleep in my arms, while I sung Rod Stewart songs to her.

That night of the grandparents afternoon tea celebration, I dreamt I was talking to an audience and I challenged the baby boomers in the room, (probably the whole room) about what were we doing about climate change?

I awoke with a start, and Dillinger’s poem filled my head and I found myself calculating  what the dates might be, not just for mine but the worlds’  great great children. I realised that my Granddaughter could still be alive in her late 90’s at the turn of the century. What world will she witness for her or the worlds’ great grandchildren? Will she thank me for me for having sung her to sleep as a baby or will she wonder what I did after I woke at 3.23 in the morning.

Connecting with the sacred is a step in the right direction. But if you are looking for a speaker to talk to your group so we can all wake up, let me know, because the call to do something is overwhelming.