Pretzel Dreams

Graciewilde from In Search of a Title is no stranger around this blog. We run in the same blogging circles and our blogs were babies together. Gracie's blog is a go-to for me when I want to think about something from a new perspective, when I want a glimpse of the inside of a mind that races as much as my own. She questions, she writes, she reads, she paints, she takes amazing photos and she's always, always thinking things through. Gracie now holds and even special-er place in my bloggy little heart because she's nearly as excited about the whole poetry thing as I am. Thank you, Gracie, for sending this poem over and for all of the steps along the way that you've been around.

She writes:

"It was the first poem that sprang into my head - perhaps because it was memorized a good 45 years ago?
If I think about the choice of one poem , I will be paralyzed into writing nothing. There are SO MANY I love....."

I hear that, Gracie. I am frequently paralyzed by the word "favorite" when it comes to many things. There are so many things to love, and so many reasons why. It is rare that I find something that is one-size-fits-all for all seasons. This poem from Langston Hughes comes pretty close. Like Michelle's it's a poem that made an early and permanent mark. There are things in life which become basic building blocks of who we are before we ever even get a chance to realize it. 

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams

For when 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, 1902-1967

In hunting around for a pretzel recipe to include with this post, I found an interesting article on dream symbols. Apparently if you dream of pretzels - have you ever dreamed of pretzels? - it symbolizes devotion and life's sweet rewards. Alternately, it can mean preoccupation with a difficult question you are trying to work out. Imagine my delight in such a perfect companion to this poem.

Mr. Hughes, himself, has provided our recipe for today for life's sweet rewards. 

Hold fast to dreams... 

Not the weird ones where you're in an airport with an old friend, being chased by the FBI and hiding in potted plants and restroom stalls. The ones that drive you to paint, to write, to read, to take photos and share them. The ones that have made early and permanent marks on your soul. The ones that help you work out the difficult questions in life.

Hold fast to dreams...

Keep dreaming those pretzel dreams.