I Dream

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BarryG

Extremely helpful member
Joined
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Diagnosis
02/2008
Country
CA
State
Alberta
City
Hinton
Here is a poem from the book "Do the Mountains Call Your Name?" by Paul Beland (ALS Canada - Incompatible Browser) who lived in Grande Cache, Alberta, about an hour and a half north of me,

I Dream

I used to think a hike, then I'd hike it
I used to think a climb, then I'd climb it
I used to think a camp, then I'd camp it
Now I dream.

I used to think a snack, then I'd eat it
I used to think a drink, then I'd drink it
I used to think a steak, then I'd cook it
Now I dream.

I used to breathe without thinking
I used to speak without a care
I used to sing without a thought
Now I dream.

I used to be independent
I used to control my life
I used to have a destiny
Now I dream.

I used to dream of life
Now I dream of living
Now I dream of life
Now I dream.

The book is full of stories and poetry written by Paul after he was diagnosed with ALS. If anyone is interested I will post more.
 
This is very poignant, Barry and it got me all choked up but I think you should post more. It's also simple and beautiful.
Thanks for sharing.
 
Rosella, I wil post more of the book on this thread, it is a good thread title. I love the words of this poem and how true they are for us and I also love the layout and the diminishing line length which also represents us. It is funny but that same shortening of the lines is what I was trying to do when I wrote https://www.alsforums.com/forum/people-als-pals/9796-ode-immovable-object.html but Paul does it much better.
 
I'm not so sure Paul does it much better. Don't sell yourself short, Mr. Talented!
xoxo
 
Wow! Please post more of Beland's work. And, more of Barry's too. -JK
 
Oh...so moving...more please and more of the beautiful barry words also!
 
Pass the Kleenex...
 
Barry,
Would love to see more...from Paul Beland as well as yours!
 
Thanks for putting into words the feelings and thoughts that preoccupy my mind more amd more every day.
 
Here is another one of Paul's poems called "Do the Mountains Call Your Name?" from his book of the same name.

Do the Mountains Call Your Name?

On a hot and sunny day
when the sky is blue
and the Mountains stand so tall,
does your heart beat loud
and your soul sing out:
Do you hear the Mountains call?

Do your hands begin to tremble
and your feet begin to shake,
does the ground on which you're standing
beckon to you let's go
and climb one of those Mountains:
Why not climb up to the snow?

As I sit here in my prison,
my mind and spirit free,
I think and feel the joys of days,
of days that used to be.
My mind is sharp, my soul is wild:
Are the Mountains calling me?

They wait to hear my answer,
but an answer never comes.
They beckon me to climb them
and search their secret ways,
to walk the rocks and see the sights
no has seen for days.

So...when the Mountains call your name
take notice what they say,
they speak of joy and wilderness
of cliffs and trees and rocks,
they speak of falls of water,
of flowing streams and brooks

They call for you to live your life
the fullest every day.
Listen to the Mountains,
and be careful what you say.

The town of Grande Cache where Paul lived is right in the mountains so it must have been wonderful and at the same time awful to look out his window at the peaks. As someone who used to hike, climb, ski, fish and
hunt this poem really resonates for me, especially the last few lines.

"They call for you to live your life
the fullest every day."

Words to LIVE by!

Barry
 

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Ah, thank you Barry. I now face this cold Ohio day with ample strength and serotinin! -JK
 
any way to get the book ?
 
Barry,

Not to take away from the original author you speak of, but I love the lyrics to this song that is along the same lines as "Do the Mountains Call Your Name?"

"So...when the Mountains call your name
take notice what they say,
they speak of joy and wilderness
of cliffs and trees and rocks,
they speak of falls of water,
of flowing streams and brooks

They call for you to live your life
the fullest every day.
Listen to the Mountains,
and be careful what you say."


(Lee Ann Womack):

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)
 
ok now I'm crying.... So beautiful.. I think we should put together all our favorite poems and make a book. JUST for US
 
I agree. How about start posting the poetry under just a thread for that?! Easy schmeasy to just print it off then. :]
 
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