I am tired of dreams
Too heavy to carry
The one about hope
The one about peace
The one about love
I have no more strength
To hold them in my heart
I will plant my dreams
At the corner of the main road
Where cars by the thousands
Drive by every day
There my dreams can rest
Send deep roots into the earth
Then reach for the sky
They will grow into a tree
A dream tree
With strong branches of hope
Radiant leaves of passion
The smell of love in its flowers
And the silence of peace
In its wide shadow
Anyone passing by can sit
Under the dream tree
In this quiet space
Their wounds will heal
My dream tree will hold anyone
Looking for dreams
By Farida
Photo by Faye Cornish
What a beautiful poem — heartbreaking at the beginning but ultimately uplifting, giving me hope. Thank you for the gift of your wise words.
Dear Farida – another exquisite poem, and so deeply moving. May your dream tree also hold your own precious dreams safely for you, and bring every one of them to fruition for you.
I like where this poem goes – the larger our wishes and dreams, the heavier and harder to carry. Best to plant them, for everyone to share.
I am so deeply moved by this poem and all that it says about Afghanistan and about the woman who wrote this. Farida, you are courageous and beautiful in your expression of unbearable circumstances and yet even stronger patience and hope. I pray for your future and that of your country.
This is a beautiful and tragic poem, but the living tree adds HOPE
This is so great! Loved it! I must say, you have a great heart!!
Painfully beautiful Farida!
Very good
Hello, I have read your poem and I am moved by this piece. I can feel the agony and pain your have at the beginning, how you wish to be free from dreams. I could really understand your struggle of trying to put your dreams to rest. I love how you had so many dreams, you were willing to let anyone go to your dream tree and give them out. This displays how caring you are and I am fascinated. I love the message, the more you wish, the harder it is to hold onto them. So it is the best thing to plant them and let them rest. Use them when it is most necessary. Beautiful piece, keep making more poems, you are amazing at them.
Farida,
This poem makes me feel different things at once. Of course I think it is beautiful however it hurts to hear about broken dreams. I believe dreams and hopes can make a very big difference. Hope and dreams can help people to cope, and to hold on just a little while longer. And sometimes, that hope and waiting pays off and those dreams come true. I believe there will be peace and love in Afghanistan. I do not know when however I believe these dreams will become a reality. Thank you for putting your thoughts into the form of this pretty poem, and I hope you can hold onto these dreams for a while longer.
Farida,
This poem is beautifully written and painful to think about. Your dreams and passion must be a lot to hold inside. I am moved by this poem and I hope you can hold on to your dreams so you can plant your dream tree, spread the love, and await the time when you can chase and follow them. Thank you for putting your experience and feelings into words and being able to share them with the world, I hope others will see this and empathize with what you are feeling.
Hi, I cannot even describe how beautiful this poem is! I was so moved by your poem. I loved the part where you said you want to plant and grow your dream. I could see your desire to develop and achieve your dream:) Also, while I was reading your poem, I thought you are a really sweet person. The part where you said “My dream can hold anyone looking for dreams” encouraged me a lot! Thank you so much for sharing your experience and I believe that your poem will encourage everyone who reads it. I hope keep growing your dream tree so that it can heal people!
Dear Farida,
Thank you so much for sharing your feelings through this exquisite poem of yours. It is a really beautiful poem, yet it carries so much pain about hopes and about dreams. It is incredibly saddening that in so many countries of the world, children and more specifically women and girls cannot chase and achieve their dreams and they are oppressed to the point where they must even give up their hope. We must never give up hope, that is what can keep us going. Your extended metaphor about this Dream Tree is simply wondrous and awe-inspiring; I hope that you can still hold on to your hope and dreams no matter how heavy and difficult it may get, because I am sure your hopes and dreams will help inspire and encourage so many more girls to come! I love especially the selfless aspect in this poem of allowing these dreams to grow, so that they can lend a helping hand and its own hopes and dreams to all of those who need it. This poem was incredibly healing for me, as I am sure it was for many other people as well. Keep writing awesome poetry! And I truly wish that all of you hopes and dreams can come true 🙂 I hope you are doing well and may peace and love find their way to you.
Farida,
I love your poem because it expresses how the dreams that you and other people in your country have are not just carried by one person but how they are carried by an entire group of people who want the ideals of peace and nonviolence.
Also, your poem could be seen as a place of comfort and sanctuary for weary people without any hope of a better life and future. The tree’s metaphorical shade can help people who are tired of the oppression and hopelessness of their lives in Afghanistan.
I have a question about your poem though. When you say that it is difficult to carry these dreams because they are heavy, what do you mean? My first interpretation was that such ideals are difficult to “carry” or hope for because they seem so impossible to achieve. Essentially, I thought you said this because you did not have hope. However, after reading for a while, I began to think that you could not carry these dreams alone because others were not willing to support you, or were resigned to their lives in Afghanistan. I would be interested in knowing what you really mean here, and if you agree that both interpretations are valid or not.
Dear Denish,
First of all thank you very much for your nice comment. ı would like to write few words regarding to your question. For me, whenever the dreams seem impossible to achieve, they become difficult to carry. On the other hand, ı feel much happier when my dreams reach more people and make them happy too. So, my dreams cannot be individual, one day they will reach more people and reflect as a mass of happiness back to me 🙂 ı hope ı could explain it.
Dear Farida,
Your poem is very beautifully written. The first three stanzas caught my attention, because they talk about dreams being too heavy to carry and you not being strong enough to hold on to your dreams about hope, peace, and love. These three stanzas broke my heart, as they showed hopelessness and not having enough strength to even dream. To be in a society where even dreaming is hard is unacceptable, especially for people who have big dreams about world peace, like you. We need more people like you, who would inspire people to keep dreaming big no matter what situation they are in. These dreams about love and peace are possible, but if they are not currently, we make them possible. I am very saddened by the hopelessness, the darkness shown to you, to make you feel this way. I live in a very different society, where students often dream about going to perfect colleges, getting top grades, and ranking first in the class. However, I believe true dreams are, in fact, about world peace, hope, light, and love. After reading through the second half of the poem, I imagined a beautiful tree, with rich green leaves full of hope, the grass around the tree full of peace, and the beautiful pink flowers with the sweet scent of love. Your poem is very beautifully crafted and it appealed to all my senses and emotions. I, with my whole heart, support you. Dreams, especially of hope, love, and peace will not only change the world, but they will also change the minds of people who want positive change, in themselves and the world, but don’t know how to start. The solution is to start dreaming. Dreaming big. Thank you so much for writing this poem. This poem is crafted so beautifully and is full of passion and hope, and everything that a inspiring poem needs. Your poem delivered a very important and powerful message to every single person, and that is to never give up on your dreams, no matter how hopeless the situation is. I know that I will never give up on my dreams of hope, world peace, and love until they come true, and I will go to any extent to make them happen. Thank you so much for inspiring me to not give up on my dreams. Your poem will empower every child and woman out there in the world and will encourage every person to make a positive change and to keep dreaming. Keep dreaming big!
– Hasita
This poem may start off with a somber tone, but I adore how you still wish for dreams to be reached. Your decision to “plant” your dream is like setting it in motion, slowly nurturing it and letting it grow and allowing anyone to sit below the dream tree is like give other people the hope they need to keep going. Anyone can pass by and see this tree. They may feel better about this dream tree still being alive, meaning that their hopes are still alive and strong. I can see the reason why a tree was used as the metaphor, because trees can be steady and strong, reaching for the sky, just like how you would want a dream would want to bloom. This poem is beautiful because it shows that many people still wish for the future to be bright, as well wanting to help everyone else to keep that wish. Your writing is very encouraging and you spark much sympathy from me. I will also hope the best for you and give you the courage to keep going. Continue to be brave, and one day you will reach that dream that took so long to nurture.
Farida,
Your poem was extremely profound and beautiful. It started with a somber tone, where you highlight the weight of the hopes you carry, and built up to the growth of a massive tree, a representation of the unity of those that share the same hopes and dreams you do. The idea that your dreams of peace and serenity in your region grow to form a massive tree is stunning metaphor for the power and immensity of the movement you are helping to spread. That the tree will provide a place of sanctity and recuperation for those that are suffering is a beautiful symbol for the positive impact that your dreams will have for the people in Afghanistan. Your poem appealed to all of my senses, with its captivating descriptions and clever metaphors. It has motivated me to think of my life and the hopes and dreams that I have, and put into perspective the issues that are faced by those who live in Afghanistan. I hope that this dream tree grows with each coming day, as more and more people begin to plant their dreams as well. I hope that all those who contribute to the tree grow in strength and unity to one day accomplish their dreams.
Dear Farida,
Thank you so much for sharing this poem of yours. It was incredibly moving and inspirational for me. Your desire to pass on your dreams to those of others, providing them hope, passion, love and peace is so touching. Your heart must be pained from the weight of carrying these dreams that are most certainly too heavy for one to carry alone. Yet it still desires achieving dreams for the world and selflessly wants those around it to experience these great things and have a tower of hope to look towards. Your dream tree may figurative but it is also incredibly real to not only me but I’m sure all those who have read your poem. Dreams to me are the things that drive my life. I live, learn, and sleep all to achieve my dreams and seeing that you wish to create a tree to spread your beautiful dreams makes me feel unbelievably awed in respect and love for what you’re doing. It gives me more hope in the world and our future when I know that there are selfless and kind people like you hoping to do so much for others. Your dream tree already exits. It is this poem. This poem has given me this hope.Your poem has given me a passion to reach my dreams and share them with others. Your poem has given me a new love for poetry. Your poem has given me the peace of mind that our world may still be able to reach peace. Yet your poem is but a branch of the dream tree that I’m sure will bloom into a beautiful canopy that will spread your magnificent dreams to the world.
Dear Farida, I am so fortunate to have the chance to read your incredibly powerful poem. The tone of the poem is somber and anyone would be saddened reading it. You talk about how all your hopes and dreams could not have been realized due to society, which leads you to take them and plant them in the ground. What grows is a metaphorical tree, symbolizing the hope, peace, and love you want to spread all across your region. In is interesting and makes sense you chose to use a tree as trees live for over hundreds, if not thousands of years. This means that your ideas of peace, love, and hope would stay at the busy intersection, where a multitude of people would pass it and get inspired for the foreseeable future. It is incredibly unfortunate that you as well as the rest of your nation have to give up on their dreams and how it seems like society is shutting down every one of your opportunities. However, it is powerful works like this and stories of hope that inspire change, and by reading your poem today, I can testify that I have been moved. Thank you for sharing your work and I hope peace comes your way.
Farida, this poem is heartbreaking but hopeful at the same time. It’s disappointing that you couldn’t have dreams of hope, love, and peace. These are things everyone should have and need. The beginning of the poem is somber, but the rest of it seems to be the complete opposite. I love that you want to do whatever you can do to give other people the dreams that you couldn’t have. I could tell that you’re a selfless and caring person. I’m really happy that you’re thinking this way. Do you have the resources to do what you want to do? If so, I wish that you make all the things you mentioned in your poem a reality. Along the way, I hope that your dreams of hope, love, and peace don’t become a burden for you.
Dear Farida,
This poem holds a large amount of weight. The heavy feelings of desperation for understanding is almost palpable. When you speak about the endless amount of dreams that seem to never be fulfilled, it feels like a yearning for an understanding of the dreams. The dreams are personal but also relatable, which is what gives it such importance. Your experience seems to seep through each word of the poem. The transition into taking action and planting the tree sparks inspiration. It seems like there was a new found mission to put names to the dreams and to make them a physical object that people can no longer ignore. The tree is something of beauty and tranquility, which is a pleasant representation of dreams. Each part of the tree is a fundamental aspect of the dreams. From the roots to the sweet smelling flowers, the purest form of aspiration flows through it. This tree is something that will never die because its purpose is not found in its physical form. I believe that this tree is a release of burden and a way of expression that leaves space for positive growth. I hope that this tree reaches as many people as it should. Thank you for this unique and beautifully written poem.
Dear Farida,
The pensive, thought-invoking tone that your poem nurtures is truly astounding. Throughout your poem, your initial tone of sorrow and the transition into the growth of such painful emotions into something as wondrous as the dream tree is executed in a meticulous, descriptive manner that leaves readers, including myself, in awe. The ending of the poem, particularly, left a resolute impact upon me. The words, “My dream tree will hold anyone Looking for dreams”, stood out from the tone used in the rest of the poem. Perhaps this was because of your usage of the word, “looking”, which implies that even those in search of their own path are capable of being touched by your dreams. The idea that dreams are constantly interacting and impacting one another truly captivated me; your words provided me with a foothold through the tumultuous journey of discovering and encouraging my own passions. Your words reassured me in this sense, providing long-desired comfort in saying that I need not attempt to carry my dreams alone. In this manner, you have reminded me that the burdens I will experience upon the search to satisfy my dreams will pale in comparison to the beautiful feelings of satisfaction and confidence I will experience upon doing so. I thank you for sharing such an eloquent and carefully-crafted poem, and for inspiring your readers to have the strength to persist in following their dreams.
I really love the dynamic quality of this poem, as it turns a somber situation into one with a positive outlook. This speaks to the reality of life in Afghanistan as without having a positive outlook at life, it can be very hard to continue pushing for change. This poem shows how one person is not enough to carry through a dream into change and reality, but it takes multiple minds under a tree to acheive this. The cars driving by the dreams planted as seeds in the ground represent the people who will follow by your ideas and help push them from a distant seed to a mighty tree that will benefit others for years to come. The tree can later serve as inspiration for others to push against inequality of their time and create a powerful cycle of positivity and change. While one person is too weak to stand up to the malicious groups that hurt the people, if they work together and form a tree of change they can overpower these groups and start rebuilding.
Hello Farida, this is a poem I wrote responding to yours, I hope you like it.
dreams are hard to reach
as they grow on trees
but once you start working
once you start hoping
someday you’ll reach it
and your dream will turn into bits
as they fall slowly into the ground
they start sprouting without a single sound
a dream tree would be created
looking for another person who is fated
to work for their dream tree
to create more dream trees
a person who can’t sleep can’t dream
so shut the lights
close the blinds
for the dream tree, you shall redeem
for the growth of your own self-esteem
This is a beautiful poem that truly expresses the existence of dreams and how some dreams aren’t achievable in a lifetime. Many dreams carry on from person to person even if they don’t know it. Dreams like world peace, hope, and love are ones that carry on over many lifetimes. These dreams seem unreachable like an ever-growing tree up in the sky; but together, these dreams aren’t so far out of reach. Knowing that these dreams are possible can heal the soul and give people hope for a better and brighter future. The time we have on this Earth is limited, but our dreams will stay in the soil growing.
I really like how in this poem you compared the idea of a dream progressing to the growth of a tree. This poem is really a great piece of work and the way you make analogies for how a dream can grow are really unique and thought provoking. Stories like this are the types of stories people will read and then want to go and chase after their dreams. After a person reads this poem I feel like they will have a fire ignited inside them and want to make their own dream tree grow as much as possible. Thank you so much for writing such an inspiring piece of work.
Dear Farida,
Wow! What a beautiful and elegantly-written poem. I love how you compared the idea of sharing dreams to the shelter of a tree, with its roots that reach out to touch people’s hearts, and the branches that stretch protectively over anyone who sits beneath them. Sometimes, when emotions and dreams can get too heavy for us to carry, it is easier to let them down and share them with people. Your poem is both a sorrowful cry and inspiring message to all who come across this hidden masterpiece. Thank you so much for sharing, and keep it up!
Farida, this is such a beautiful work of art. I could almost feel the exhaustion associated with holding the weight of dreams that seemed mostly unattainable. I really loved the extended metaphor you used in your poem, where you likened growing your dreams to that of planting a tree. You very artistically depict how you can allow your dreams to expand while sharing their hope and passion with others. Not only do you think about how growing your dreams can affect you, but you also take into consideration that your “dream tree will hold anyone looking for a dream,” and for this reason I think your compassion really shines through in this poem. You seem to be a truly caring person who is able to simply, yet beautifully, illustrate the difficulties of holding on to and spreading your passions during hard times. I truly hope all your dreams of hope, peace, and love come true soon, and keep writing more poems!
Farida, thank you for writing this poem. It can sometimes feel vulnerable to put your emotions on the page as a poet. In writing what you are experiencing, you reveal a side to you that other people do not see on the front, and to do that, takes strength. Moreover, it’s not easy realizing these feelings and describing what they are like, but your piece is beautifully written. Your words capture the essence of hope and what it’s like to persist in such a troubling environment. Thank you for writing this piece and for providing the world with an account of your perseverance, even when times are hard. I hope you keep writing and holding faith in your dreams as hope is both powerful and unifying.
Dear Farida,
Your writing is beautiful. I feel your exhaustion through the first few words, and my heart breaks just imagining what you must have seen or gone through. Despite this, you manage to turn your loss of hope into new hope, for all, and that requires incredible strength and courage. You extend comfort and love for all, while shouldering your own pain, and so I would like to say thank you. Thank you for speaking up, for sharing, and for holding such beautiful dreams. You will not have to hold their weight alone. I hope that you soon see your dreams come true before your eyes.