Here Comes the Dreamerby Paul Mayer, dedicated to Thomas Chapin, spoken at Thomas Chapin Memorial Service at St. Peter’s Church, NYC, 3/98.

“Here comes the dreamer. Come on, let us kill him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams.” –Genesis 37:19-21

“What if,” he says, “what if the whole world
round there could be justice, bread, house and joy for
every living soul.

“What if the redwood giant, the whale, each sweet
song bird would be safe to sing and soar.

“What if each barbed wire, bread line, favella
child could sleep tonight in sweet embrace of home.

“What if we could all step across prescribed and
proscribed borders. Could open our hearts and hear
each other’s pain and joy and dry each other’s tears.”

“Ah,” say the experts.

“But,” proclaim the men of reason.

“Too late,” declare the prophets of doom.

And yet he stands there,—head in stars, feet in
good black soil.

His heart a furnace, his life a song. He sings his
dream.

He plants and harvests dreams the way young girls
pick apples.
Gently, firmly, savoring each one.

Knowing that his dreams are not illusions, only
seeds.

Only waiting for the mahatmas (great hearts) to
nuture, plow and prune;

Guarding against the birds of prey;

Those wise doubters who fear dreamers above all.

So now let us retell that ancient bible text of
Joseph and his brothers:

“Here comes the dreamer—let us strew stars in his
path,

Crown him with moonlight;
Kiss his sweet face with spring blossoms in
gratitude for his dreams.”

* * *

II. The Resurrection

Today I am reborn like Lazarus
back from the grave.
Baptized by my own tears.
Midwifed by my own courage.
Nurtured by the love of many.

Plucked up by the hair like the prophet,
transported to a strange and wonderful land.
My child lives again.
I have found the key to my own heart.
Welcome home to myself.