I had this dream....

Childhood memories swirl around me, birthday parties, summer camping
Family holidays spent with good hearts, we weren't rich, but we weren't lacking
No one was left wanting, or so it seemed to me
But sometimes wounds hide too deep for anyone to see

Detail isn't important, truth be told, I didn't want to remember,
I spent minutes, days, and years perfecting my recipe to forget
Cold with fear, denial, disbelief and without hope
I realized that as a human, I could not cope
I could pretend, though, and as long as I did, maybe no one would get hurt
And they would never know, couldn't ever know
That they were touching dirt

I made so many choices knowing before I chose that I'd choose wrong
But I didn't care, I couldn't care, It was too damn hard to stand up strong
But those things came back to haunt me, and against a wall, I embraced the pain
I turned myself around, and swore I'd never go back again

Now detail isn't important, truth be told, I really can't remember
I spend minutes, days, and years willing myself to never forget
Warmed with courage, acceptance and belief, I found some hope,
I realize I am human, and I'm working very hard to cope,
I can't pretend, though, because as long as I do it's only me whose getting hurt
And I always know, can't ever not know,
That the world outside avoids me, afraid that they might touch the dirt

I find myself wondering as I take life minute by minute, day by day
Will this taint, the feeling of uncleanliness ever really go away?
I see the looks on faces and I feel those whispered words
People think they're talking quietly, but I assure you that I heard

You say the details aren't important, truth be told, you always remember
You've spent minutes, days and years making sure no one forgets
Is it your fears, denial and disbelief that try to steal my meager hope?
Please remember I am human, and still struggling to cope
I'm not asking you to pretend, though, because it was you that I hurt
Because of all I know, and all you know,
I will just ask for some forgiveness, help me wash away the dirt

It's a rare person who really sees me, underneath my dirt and grime
Who treats me like I have value, and that I'm worth their time
It's a beautiful, heady feeling to be met with no expectations
I'm grateful I can share some time without any explanations

She says details aren't important , truth be told she doesn't mind
She's spent minutes, days and years looking for what she could not find
She has enough courage, acceptance and belief to help maintain my hope
She knows that I am human, and I have the tools to cope
There is no more pretending, but there's always the risk for hurt
But I will know, and she will know
I am worth more than the dirt

This blog post is mainly for me, since I am the only one who comes here, anyhow. I wrote this poem after waking up from a dream I was having. I wish I could remember the melody that was supposed to go with it, but I don't. I don't have enough of a musical gift to write actual tunes, anyhow. I wrote it from a male perspective, because in my dream, it was a young man who was struggling with the issue that he was ostracized from society, and even friends and family due to the poor choices he had made. I wasn't him in the dream, I was more of an observer. He met a girl in this dream, just as I was waking up. A beautiful girl, who was not hesitant to touch him at all. On further reflection now, though, I am kind of wondering if this wasn't supposed to end differently. Maybe he died, and she was an angel? They were both in white, the whole typical, schmaltzy ending with the breeze blowing the hair and the loose white clothing. Hmm. Now I might have to write a depressing alternate ending to this.