Dreams
Langston Hughes, 1902 – 1967

Hold fast to dreams 
For if 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.

 

Since around the age of 12 when I first came across this poem it has continued to be my most favourite poem of all. It touched my young heart and soul as if I was remembering something told to me long before I was born.

When I was around 42 our family was going through one of the toughest times of our life. Rick was struggling everyday going to a negative work environment. Our debts kept growing no matter how hard we tried to get ahead. We had two teen daughters experiencing some extreme difficulties. Everything at that time began to crumble and fall apart. Rick and I were on the pathway to divorce.

I remember feeling so much despair as I stood near the stairs up to the bedrooms where I knew my daughters would hear me.  I spoke out in a very loud voice, ‘Don’t have dreams. All they do is cause heartache and discouragement!”

Why I can remember this so vividly is because as I was saying this, with my heart so full of pain, this poem was struggling to remain with me. I could feel it inside me, ‘hold fast to your dreams Leisa’, yet I pushed it down deep inside not wanting to hear it again.

Several more things continued to happen to us that year. My dad passed away, we totalled our car on the way home from saying goodbye to him. Our youngest daughter broke her arm while we were away. Then Rick was forced to quit his job.

But we weren’t left alone, help came along. It came in the form of 6 CDs with many inspiring messages. Messages that gave us hope. Once again I pulled out my favourite poem and let it fill my heart again with dreams.

Always keep your dreams alive and keep on believing in them, because I know they are only over the next hill waiting for you to arrive. They always are, trust me!

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