Pestle and Mortar

Image courtesy of google:learnnc.org

I Dreamt a Dream! What can it mean?

Who could interpret what it portends?

In it, I saw a huge pestle—

 the size of Africa

Grenades, detonators and guns—

All weapons the world ever knew

Manuscripts, scrolls, speeches—

The objects that stoked hatred

Near it, I saw a pestle—

The size of Australia

Gandhi and Luther King

Stood by, Mother Theresa

Was busy weeping by

At that moment

On a Big Screen flashed

Hearts ripped by bullets

Towns and cities bombed

A limbless child lay, lifeless

Nations of the earth watched

Moved, in collective agony

Then, as if on cue,

Those people held the pestle

Lifted it, one, two, three

They sang harambee

Lifted it, up, up, up

When the pestle descended

Into the mortar, all its contents

Were pounded like yam

They pounded, pounded

Pounded till a paste was formed

More pounding and a thick liquid

Dripped;

Mankind partook of it

Man cried ever more

When I looked at the Big Screen

I saw Gandhi and Mother Theresa and King—

All crying in joy

Fleetingly, I saw all Leaders of the Earth

Dancing round and round

A thousand doves flew above

The Earth detoxified itself

Buried bullets and shells flew;

To an overhanging magnet

I saw Earth heave

I awoke—

Dream Interpreters what say thee?

C) Lorot Salem 2011


For a prompt Carry on Tuesday Plus #101 The task was to use the lines " I Dreamt a Dream! What can it mean?" from William Blake's poem, "The Angel".