Poem: Awaking from an American Dream

Awaking from an American Dream

by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

I dozed and dreamed, and dreamed and dozed.

In my dream, I saw barricades, wires, memorials–closed.

In the foggy mist, along the Potomac,

the monumental Lincoln stood, came momentarily back to life

to walk through his wavering Washington.

I dozed and dreamed, and dreamed some more.

Then, I saw the monumental man

with modern barricades in each hand.

He walked and walked along those famous streets;

he paused a while at the World War II Memorial,

shook his head, and shed a tear.

Then, the gaunt figure gallantly walked on:

he had more places to go, someone to meet.

I dreamed and dozed, and dreamed some more.

There were tears on my pillow. Had they been there before?

Next, I saw President Lincoln join with another monumental man.

Moving away a barricade, President Lincoln shook the hand

of Doctor Martin Luther King.

His statue, too, had come to life.

Together, they picked up more barricades

and tossed the wires away.

I dreamed and dozed, and dreamed once more.

This time, in my dream,

I saw a funeral cortege.

In my view came not just one casket, but two.

In the procession, President Lincoln and Doctor King walked slowly by.

Somehow, I managed to ask—

I don’t know how, I don’t know why:

“Who are in those coffins?”.

President Lincoln nodded and said,

“In the first casket is Common Sense.”

Then, Doctor King added,

“In the second coffin rests Hope.”

At last, I awakened from my American dream

to hear from Mount Rushmore a mighty roar:

“Old Faithful still gushes, but no one can see…”

I sit up and awake to a Washington reality.

We have monumental reasons for needing change.

A little child stands by a closed gate and wonders,

“Is this what you are leaving me?”.

I ask, “Is this my America?

Is this the United States of America?”.

God bless the American dreamers who can discuss

and disseminate real and decent, positive portraits

of change—in a Land of No Barricades.

With gratitude to the Greatest Generation
who still touch our hearts, educate our souls, and strengthen our spirits–

Alice Massa

October 8, 2013, Tuesday night

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