dream
by Kamia Hendricksen
University of Minnesota Twin-Cities
Kamia Hendricksen is currently a sophomore at the University of Minnesota Twin-Cities. She is majoring in Biochemistry, with a minor in Pharmacology. This is her first piece that has been published.
dream
dream \dre̅m\ n. 1. A timed glance into what could have been: as in a sweet kiss by poisonous doubt brushed on the temple, / An unwavering, pestering question, / Searching for hidden, / Pushed down, / And tucked away answers / That will fuel the fire of / Uncertainty. 2. A thought of hope, as flame of desire / This windblown hair, / This kick behind the knees, / This dive heart-first, / This breath before the birds sing, / This overnight flight, / This reach beyond yesterday, / This foot planted firmly in the soil of tomorrow, / The infinite possibilities granted by life, / That hibernate within us. 3. A small taste of what could be, / What will be, / A tease of life resuming, / A gift from aspiration, / A place I long to be, / Where our eyes meet before our lips, / Where our hearts beat in sync, / Where our hands fold together, / Where your gaze stirs butterflies, / Where our fingers intertwine, / A moment almost tangible, / A moment that fades with the moonlight, / A moment so dear, / You slip through my fingers as I wake, / To another day / without you.
Interview With The Author
1. What was your inspiration for this piece?
I didn't have a specific inspiration for the content of the piece, like the choosing of the word "dream", but I did have inspiration for the format of it. I am currently enrolled in a creative writing class at my university, and my TA for this class was extremely helpful during the creation of this poem. She pushed us to work outside of our comfort zone and find new writing formats to present our work in. I ended up choosing to write this poem as a definition of a word, which was extremely fun and challenging to develop.
2. What is your creative process?
I generally start by brainstorming for long periods of time. Coming up with an idea for a piece is the hardest part of the process for me, so when I finally come across that perfect idea, I run with it. My first draft is always a jumbled mess, lengthy and filled with every thought that came to mind. It takes me several revisions to finally get the perfectly sculpted product that I was envisioning.
3. What are some influences on your artistic process?
I am definitely influenced by my mother. Ever since I was little, I have witnessed how talented she is at multiple forms of art. Her talent fueled my creative fires and continually influences my artistic process.
4. Is there anything more you’d like our readers/viewers to know about you or your work?
This poem would never have become what it is now if it weren't for my creative writing TA. I thank her for her guidance and for her suggestion on trying to get this piece published.