The Cupbearer or the Baker?
–Genesis 40
A dream goes through a sieve once we awake,
With only fragments left to contemplate.
Although we think that what we saw is fake,
we sense a meaning that we can’t negate.
Thus, we try to decode the visions seen
by ruminating on what they might mean.
But without Joseph’s dream insights, then we
don’t know: will we meet death or be set free?
Decisions
Detach the thoughts inside your mind
_from feelings that arise,
and place them on a scale that’s blind
_to know how to be wise.
Be wise to which of these to heed:
_your heart or intellect,
for you must choose how to proceed,
_with hope it is correct.
Correct decisions guide your life
_away from the abyss,
thus, making your existence rife
_with ecstasy and bliss.
Paul Millan currently resides in Glendora, California. His work has appeared on Lighten-Up Online, and will appear in Westward Quarterly.
Paul, I very much like that image of a sieve for how dreams get sorted into fragments in conscious memory. That’s exactly what I found when I tried recording dreams for a period of time. You’re supposed to write down what you remember as soon as you wake, so that any talk or experience of the new day doesn’t interfere, but even so, pieces of the dream go missing–or can’t be expressed in words. Joseph’s interpretations of dreams in Genesis 40 offers two broadly distinct meanings to end the poem, and provides an excellent title.
Also like your repetition of words to connect stanzas in “Decisions.” It gives the feeling of a logical path in good decision making, with both heart and head considered and evaluated. Nice work.
Margaret,
I too ponder dreams briefly, but I usually forget them soon after waking up. I’ve never kept a dream journal but that sounds interesting. They must have some meaning at times, if the correct person can interpret them, like Joseph, and I believe Daniel as well if I recall correctly.
Thanks for noticing the words connecting stanzas in “Decisions”. I hope the poem made sense logically. I, myself am trying to move away from the abyss and make better decisions.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment upon the poems. I greatly appreciate it.
Decisions, I particularly liked. We should all weigh ourselves up and respect others, especially those who weigh themselves up differently.
Thanks for the read, Paul.
Thanks for your insightful comment, Paul.
And thank you for reading and commenting upon the poems. I greatly appreciate it.
I enjoyed both of these. I was particularly drawn to the emphasis on blind scales, and the need to balance heart and intellect when making judgements. As Paul points out, everyone is guilty of making quick judgements without even pretending to balance heart and intellect. Taking shortcuts is understandable since, if we carefully evaluated every decision, nothing would ever get done. Having said that, there is so little ecstasy and bliss evident in the world which demonstrates that we could all do a lot better at striking the appropriate balance.
Warren,
Thanks for reading and sharing your comments. The poem is in a way self-advice, since I can just impulsively react sometimes. So it is a reminder to weigh my thoughts against my feelings, and strive for the best decision that’ll lead me away from the abyss. Yes, many could attempt weighing their decisions better as well.