Theme of a Dreamer

Michael Hoggatt

He sat with pen in hand and furrowed brow as he
Reflected on his passions, promises and paid
Note to shame resurfacing again. New mind
To those old boyish ways had he, and chuckled at
The thought of being young. “Poets are full of shit!”
He gasped and crumpled pad and tossed it in the can.

He kicked the chair, arose and turned about as he
Suddenly recalled a memory—a vaulted sense
Of his eternal youth that once made him so sure
That every footstep, feeling, thought, and chance he took
Would win him playground glories—bunkers, forts, and towns.
He widened eyes and longed for his old self again.

He promptly paced the circle round the chair as he
Bent to rifle through the waste bin for his paper ball—
Wad of wrath that he regretted in a spat of doubt.
The rust-worn hero scorned his rhyme, his meter, and
Forgotten feelings pen had pressed to page long since.
He wished more wisdom for himself ere he began.

He reasoned to himself, mused muttering
As he reconsidered reckless hate towards himself.
The day drew on, and he still stood alone and wept;
Fierce floods poured out upon the desk—was this relief?
In helpless mood he lumbered to the door and found
He could not bring himself to cross the open span.

Michael Hoggatt is a Master’s student at Ralston College, studying the humanities. He hails from Wisconsin and attended Hillsdale College for undergraduate studies, majoring in English with a Classical Education minor. A lifelong passion for martial arts and athletics have taught him to stay grounded while a passion for ideating about culture and theology tend to carry him away to far off lands of thought. Favorite poets include King David the Psalmist, Pearl Poet, John Donne, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and Khalil Gibran. After completing his Master’s, Michael plans to teach at a classical high school.