When I set out to write love poetry, I knew I’d have to find a different angle for it. I am still working on that, and I may have taken it to the extreme with this one. Anyway, Happy Valentine’s Day!
Poem and illustration copyright 2023 Michelle Garren-Flye
If you’re one of those who thinks God will save us from any mess we get ourselves into, so we can do whatever the hell we want to do, I hope you’re right. Maybe that’s not enough, but I do hope you’re right. On the other hand, I can’t help but think, well, if I was God, I would’ve thrown up my hands and walked away from us idiots a long time ago. And where does that leave us now with our planet on fire, inadequate leadership, a virus killing thousands per day and no way out? I know where it leaves us. It leaves us at the end of all that has nurtured us for so long.
The End of the Dream, or Burning Hell
By Michelle Garren Flye
Here we stand at the end of the dream.
Where do we go now?
I see no shining trails leading us away
From the end of all we know.
From bloody skies and boiling streets,
There is no rescue to come.
This horror we’ve concocted here
Is what’s left of our home.
Yes, the dream is gone, and rage takes over;
I feel it under my skin.
It crawls in through my open mouth
And makes its home within.
Fire and famine, fear and sorrow,
Burning hell takes over.
The nightmare has only just begun—
No one’s coming to wake you.
So, here’s my confession. The deepest secret I’ve been keeping for the last two months.
I’m taking singing lessons.
What? You’re not shocked? You would be if you knew me. I’ve always said I can’t carry a tune to save my life. I’ve even claimed to be tone deaf.
Long story short, my very brave and lovely voice teacher gave me first choice of songs to learn, and I chose Imagine by John Lennon. At this point, I’ve sung it so many times, I know it by heart—and by that, I mean more than just that I know every word.
It’s like those words are, literally, inscribed on my heart.
I’ve always loved the song, of course. But until I had to do the work of matching the words to the music and singing them more or less in tune, I didn’t really think about their meanings.
Imagine there’s no heaven…no hell below us…living for today…
What might the world be like if we were all driven just by the desire to live our best lives right here? On earth, right now. This is the moment we have. This is the only moment we have.
…no countries…no religion too…living life in peace…
Can you imagine that? Can you imagine living your life for your family and the people you love without imagined boundaries to separate us? No race, no patriotism, no gods to get in the way.
Am I dreamer? I bet there are more with the same dream. Heck, it’s what Star Trek is based on.
…no possessions…
That’s a big one, isn’t it? That’s why the next line is, “I wonder if you can.” It’s a big ask. A revolutionary thought in a capitalistic society that puts different values on skills. But what if everyone’s skills were regarded with the same value? If we truly reached that point of nirvana where the garbage collector’s service is of the same value as the teacher’s and the doctor’s?
…no need for greed or hunger…a brotherhood of man…
And forget lawyers and criminals because:
…imagine all the people sharing all the world…
Do you see? What Lennon dreamed was a world of pure freedom unlike anything any of us have ever experienced. I’ve dreamed of that, too. But I’ve never fought for it. Too caught up in what the world actually is to be able to see what it could be, I guess.
It may be too late to have that world, but we can dream it. We can imagine it if we try really hard—and if we can imagine it, we can work toward it.
Imagine that.
BREATHE: Michelle Garren-Flye 