Peace Dreams

My Reading of Poem

Peace Dreams

Let us ride on the backs of heroic souls
              Where the brave, olive-helmeted soldiers play
On danger’s turf, with their shadowy foes
               Amidst fragile people who kneel and pray.

None of our thoughts will be nearer than death
               We will ride upon morning-doves smiling with peace.
We will make us a tent from an angel’s breath
               And stand at ease in the mourning breeze

                                  II

Let us ride on the banks of cool, clear rivers,
               Columbia and Missouri and Rogue and Deschutes,
Chanting our praises in high, lucid mountain quivers,
               Like shamans mimicking the Great Spirit-Owl’s hoots

None of our dreams will be harder than war
              Clad in the blood or gore, if you wish,
We will watch the black mouth of the thunderstorm roar
               And feast upon berries and bright silver fish

                                III

Let us ride where the moonlight shimmers on the water
               In the silent, sleepy sea, let us find ourselves
Let us pray by the dawn’s early light, with a brother
              And a wind song of worship, played by the elves

In our dreams, in our prayers, we shall see, we shall feel
              The steady drumbeats of our hero-soldier’s tolls.
We will drift away where the forest protects and shields
              And smoke the peace pipe from long-stemmed bowls.