The
peaceful
ease
.
o
f
.
those
dancing
dreams
–
–
that
made
.
u
s
.
feel
.
s
o
.
effortlessly
free . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
would
sing
.
s
o
.
sweet
.
a
n
d
.
serene
.
f
o
r
.
all
the
days
–
–
that
would
seed
.
a
n
d
.
breed . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
breed
.
a
n
d
.
seed . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
t
h
e
–
–
–
seeming
eternity . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ the
seeming
eternity . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
o
f
–
–
–
spring . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
It
would
sing . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
It
would
sing . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
It
would
sing . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
f
o
r
–
–
–
the
seeming
eternity
.
o
f
.
spring . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ the
seeming
eternity
.
o
f
.
spring . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
now
sinking
carelessly . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ now
sinking
carelessly . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
beneath
.
t
h
e
.
storming
seas . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ beneath
.
t
h
e
.
storming
seas . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
o
f
–
–
–
reali~
tease.
Reflection:
This is a reflection-themed poem largely associated with the melancholy of looking back on a past that once seemed so carefree, dreamy, vibrant, and free. The contemplator views his/her present life with a sense of dread that it is so filled with day-to-day tasks, work, and responsibilities that there is little or no time for fun, freedom, and dreams – and he/she wonders if that will ever change.
While on a trip to Portugal, I was listening to various musicians I hadn’t heard in a while. One of those was Bruce Springsteen. I had forgotten how moving his music and lyrics were. So, I thought I’d try to write something as a tribute to him while playing some of his songs in the background at low volume. The primary ones were: “Jungleland,” “Backstreets,” “Downbound Train,” “My Hometown,” “Point Blank,” “The River,” “One Step Up,” “Thunder Road,” and “Atlantic City.” I played these songs in the background to create the “moodset” for the poem and inspire the writing of the poem. So, if you listen to one or more of these songs at low volume while reading this poem, you might better get the “feel” of it.