Dive for dreams

Dive for dreams

dive for dreams
or a slogan may topple you
(trees are their roots
and wind is wind)

trust your heart
if the seas catch fire
(and live by love
though the stars walk backward)

honour the past
but welcome the future
(and dance your death
away at this wedding)

never mind a world
with its villains or heroes
(for god likes girls
and tomorrow and the earth)

e.e. cummings

The first time I ever heard this poem was in the movie Charlie St. Cloud.  I wish I had discovered this poem earlier or on my own, but I'll take what I can get.  When I heard Charlie read a portion of this poem to Tess I was instantly taken with this poem.  Each part of this poem means something for me...  

1.  You can't just stand on the sidelines waiting for your life to happen, waiting for you dreams to come to you.  You have to dive straight into whatever comes at you, or else your fears/obstacles or your "slogan" whatever it may be will knock you flat on your ass.  But if you are knocked on that ass of yours you have legs, your "roots" that will let you stand again, and you are who you are at the end of the day, just like the wind.  

2.  Trust your heart... well that seems a bit cliché seeing as my heart has been crushed, ripped out, and stomped on multiple times now.  However, I understand the sentiment, and put that together with the line "if the seas catch fire" and e e.cummings is back in my good graces.  That one line makes everything better for me.  Seas can't catch fire on their own but if they did I'm sure love would be all consuming, as if it is the right kind of love it should be all consuming.  And even if something as strange were to occur as the stars walking backward don't let that hinder you from what or who you want to love... live by love.

3. Remember who you are and where you came from, but don't let your past life rule the life you live today, the life you live in this moment.  Don't regret the past, for it becomes your present, and it becomes part of your future.  So honour it honour the life you have and the life you have yet to live.  Welcome your future with open arms, arms full of hope and life.  Live a life that brings you joy and happiness each day.  Live a life where you can find joy and happiness in other peoples' lives as well.  And dance.  Dance like nobody is watching you.  Dance your sorrows, your troubles, your fears, and your regrets away. These things will be the death of you, so by all means get rid of them, forget about them, dance them away.  

4.  Forget about villains or heroes, don't spend time grouping people into categories.  Find people you love, find people that fit your dream and stick with them.  Stick with them and with God or with whatever power you choose to believe in.  

Never forget that the promise of tomorrow is real, so take it, seize it and run, dive head first for dreams.