28 Comments
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Mary Pierce's avatar

"Time was,

we could raise

a little dream

to distant heights,

and find some space

above the lights

where it could grow

and act like a promise

to those we left below."

Wonderful, Paul! Poignant, powerful. Thank you.

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks to @Kristin , MSN, RN, CCRN for the restack!

Stanley Wotring's avatar

Some dreams have become frail as they have aged.

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Think of all the small businesses (someone’s dream) lost during the pandemic, or the houses (someone’s dream) lost during 2007-2008 bank meltdown. How many are living their “dream” right now only one or two paychecks away from disaster?

Patricia Andrews (WA)'s avatar

I hear that phrase all the Ike like a mantra “Livin’ the dream” from people who could not in any way be actually doing that. It becomes an incantation for magic since actually doing it is unreachable.

Diane BF78's avatar

This may be my favorite of the week because it speaks to society’s blindness of people who are close to being left behind, Paul.💙

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

And those who are left behind, as well, Diane. Thank you.

Wendy Martin's avatar

Me-My invisible bruises.

Them-but your bangs look good

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

And they never seem to notice, do they? Thanks, Wendy, for reading and for the comment.

Wendy Martin's avatar

Thank you Paul for being my daily inspiration. 🦕

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Gee, Wendy, Thank you so much for

that—makes my day!

Monica P.'s avatar

Your reading of this poem brings yours words to life making reflection easier for me.

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, Monica. I usually like to leave it to the reader to decide on what it means or doesn’t mean to them based only on what they read, but many readers seem to like the audio versions so I will probably do more.

Patris's avatar

Especially with you voice speaking it, such painful truth here.

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, Patris - I'm trying to do more audio versions. This was a piece I posted last October and I think only a few people ever read it. There are over 600 subscribers now, and I'm amazed and grateful.

Patris's avatar

I must have said so before, but your voice, intonations, pauses - amplify your words by an exponential amount.

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

I do read everything to myself while I’m in the process of writing so the reading is pretty close to how I hear it in my head.

Patris's avatar

Beautiful voice, Paul

Pamela's avatar

So much like life ….. beautiful yet somehow sad …. Thx Paul 👏

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, Pamela—I appreciate the comment.

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Grateful to @Chen Rafaeli for the restack. Thank you!

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Apr 21, 2024
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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

High praise, Mike -- I'm grateful!

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Apr 20, 2024
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Karen Kenworthy's avatar

That’s how I feel too 😘🥰

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Apr 20, 2024
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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

It’s amazing to me that no matter how many “social safety nets” we devise, there are always people who are never caught—as often as they’re rarely, if ever, noticed.

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Apr 20, 2024
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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, Simon. I hope George would approve.