I BEHOLD A DREAM: FOR I BELIEVE IN HOPE (a poem)

I have been asked by several people to compose a poem. I have never really written one, and I don't have much of an understanding of how they are constructed, or what the ingredients of a good poem are. This is my first attempt, so be gentle with the criticism. I would appreciate further guidance or suggestions on how to improve. Maybe I will attempt another.

I was watching the Presidential Inauguration of our President, Barack H. Obama, today. Most of you know I worked for Organizing For America, and had the time of my life on the incredible campaign that most people thought we couldn't pull off. It took a lot of hard work by thousands of dedicated people with Liberal and Progressive values, of Collective Accountability and Responsibility. The President's speech today laid out a bold defense of Collective Activism, which is People and Government. The other side preached against Government, preached against Love, Empathy and Compassion, and openly and proudly with smirks, mocked these things as heresy.

Thank God we elected people in government that don't openly hate and mock government. Things are changing in America. There is more and more diversity, for which I am happy to see, and proud to openly affirm and celebrate. As a multi ethnic, bi-racial, transsexual lesbian, Mormon, I am loud and proud of my diversities. I am just getting to know myself, which is both exhilarating and scary. So today, we celebrate the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr's, Birthday, and I was contemplating his legacy, and all of his compelling words and speeches. I thought I would write a poem, and dedicate it to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and President Barack H. Obama.


                                I BEHOLD A DREAM:  HOPE OF LEANORAH

I behold a dream

Not a dream to hide, nor to shirk

But a dream to share and enlighten

For I believe in Hope.

I behold a dream

In my dream there is love

Oh, how there is love.

Love for all children

Love for all women

Love for all men

Love for all difference

Love for all similarities

Love for Unity

Love for Equality

Love for Love

Conditions, there are none

Oh, how there is love

For I believe in Hope.

I behold a dream

In my dream there is empathy

Oh, how there is empathy

Empathy for misfortune

Empathy for the crestfallen

Empathy for lives lived in guile

Empathy for the oppressed

Empathy for the denigrated

Empathy for those given trial

Empathy for courage

Empathy for empathy

Oh how there is empathy

For I believe in Hope

I behold a dream

In my dream there is compassion

Oh, how there is compassion

Compassion for kindness

Compassion for the priest

Compassion for the priestess

Compassion for the alienated

Compassion for the least

Compassion for the subjegated

Compassion for humanity

Compassion for people

Compassion for compassion

For I believe in Hope.

I behold a dream

In my dream there is affirmation and validity

Oh, how there is acceptance and celebration

Oh how there is tolerance, and empowerment

Oh how there is edification, and uplifting

Affirmation for lesbians

Affirmation for gays

Affirmation for bisexuals

Affirmation for transgenders

Affirmation for genderqueers

Affirmation for pansexuals

Affirmation for transsexuals

Affirmation for asexuals

Oh how there is celebration of Equality and human rights for all

For I believe in Hope.

I behold a dream

Not a dream to pride or smirk

But a dream to flare and  brighten

Not a dream to bury or shame

But a dream to care and righten

Not a dream to shelve with apathy

But a dream so bold as to fan a flame

A flame of valiance, a flame of courage

A flame of desire, a flame of endurance

To lite this fire, that is my dream

For I believe in Hope

I behold a dream

Where there is no inequality, there is no injustice

Where there is no stingy, there is no scrooge

Where there is no greedy, there is no needy

We work together for the further view

We work together for the undiscovered country

We work together, for there is no bordered country

We work together, not for the chosen few

We work together for the further view

We work together-overcome the fools

We work together-overcome the tools

We work together-faith in the new

We work together-charity in the service

We work together-for the hope of the one

Oh how there is working together

For I believe in Hope.

I do behold a dream

I do want to dream

I do want to build Zion

I do want to make the world a better place for all mankind

I do know I will have to overcome the Earth from the fools who negate

I do know we'll have to expend great and marvelous works

Works for transcending

Transcending the reprobate

Transcending the bully's

Transcending the selfish

Transcending the hateful

Transcending the bigots

Transcending the sully's, despoilers and spiteful

Transcending those who dream their stuff don't stink

Oh how I love being trans

In my dream, the world is pink

For I believe in Hope.

For I beheld this dream

I know we can make heaven a place on Earth 

My dream is asking us all to try

I want to do more than just cry

I submit this dream in earnest 

Let us not ask why, but let us ask how

Oh I have so much love-for I have my Hope

And I have my dream

This dream I do behold

The Dream of Leanorah