15 Comments
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Sumi's avatar

I love this so much! Thank you for sharing 💖

Louise M Paré's avatar

This lifted my heart this morning. I have friends in the Twin Cities and my heart has felt it this week. I'm also a poet and I read the poem I wrote titled "Mindfully We Care for the Dreamers" as part of an Arts and Words event at a local gallery. There were a couple of people there from MN and they let me know that my poem helped their hearts. Hearing you process with your son wrapped in some of Mary Oliver's words was just what I needed to keep loving regardless today.

Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

I’m so glad Louise. What a beautiful comment and a beautiful thing you were able to do. I’d love to read your poem.

Louise M Paré's avatar

Hi, Mary.

Do you have an email address where I can send you my poem? I'll see if it will keep the formatting if I paste it here. It did so no need for your email address.

Mindfully We Care for the Dreamers

Nightmare Dreamer speaks:

Tonight I feel gutted

he shot her

in her pale round knitted-winter-hat-framed face

then he yelled fuckin’ bitch

as he turned and walked away

from her out of control car

speeding down snow patched street

crashing into dark brown wood light pole

Nightmare Dreamer speaks:

My blood red heart erupts

with terror

agony

rage

shattered like pepper balls exploding on ice

tears gassed from my eyes melt my skin

this is not a time I want to be awake

I want a different dream

Nightmare Dreamer speaks:

If I write my poem

read it in public

will you feel upset

disturbed

provoked

name me as enemy of the people

hope they take me away

and detain me in another dark place

Huge black mother bear embraces nightmare dreamer

all I want to do is sleep disappear

follow the void dark path down down down

into mother earth’s belly

where snakes sleep and shed their skins

where red-capped white spotted mushrooms

invite deep tremulous visions

where no light disturbs the dreaming

Old wisdom says

this world is breaking apart

let break what needs to break

Shadowing mother bear

a soft sun-glowing radiance

mindfully

carefully

seeps into nightmare dreamer’s cells

giving her strength

giving her resilience

giving her serenity

Lmparé

01.20.26

Louise M Paré's avatar

It didn't keep the formatting so If you have an email address you'd be willing to share I will send it to you with the painting that inspired my poem as well as the right formatting. Thanks, Mary. I appreciate your interest in my poem. Have a wonderful day. Louise

Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Oh thank you for sharing. I direct messaged my email address to you. Thank you for your beautiful words.

Christine Daleiden's avatar

You are an amazing human being. I am inspired by your thoughtfulness and awareness. Also, always love it when Mary Oliver’s words are in the mix!!

Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

That’s so kind, and yes, she is the best.

Janisse Ray's avatar

These wounded children.

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

A valuable journey through the very real struggles of parenting. Thanks, Mary, and well done.

Andrea Bass's avatar

This is beautiful, Mary! I’m glad both of you get M and M time. ❤️

Writer's Corner's avatar

Yes, it resonated. Deeply. I believe we are here to learn about unconditional love. Mateo seems to be a brilliant teacher. We are here to practice it in real life. Not always easy. But that's how we grow.

With love, Maria

Jen Zug's avatar

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this story. I know this kind of love can be challenging and requires a lot of patience.