Wrote in 1978-If I was the king of the forest.
If I was the king of the forest.
A Poem by Coyote Poetry
Old memories and old dreams.
If I was the King of the Forest.
American Soldiers drinking with boisterous and loud German women and men in a guesthouse. Celebrating the May festival in Stuttgart in 1978.
Drinking the cognac and the good beer. One of the German men yelled “A toast and a song.” He ordered a round of cognac for the table.
He raised his cup and spoke. “To peace and no more war.” He began to sing. ” If I was the King of the forest. I would have only friends. I would have no hunger and the people would dance and celebrate being alive. Guns would be forgotten. War would because a myth. If I was the king of the forest. People would not live with fear. All races and religion would be content. Murder and death forgotten. This would be my wish. If I was the king of the forest.”
He told us. “Toast to peace and utopia. I pray one day will come.”
I left my celebrating friends. I wrote a poem.
If I was the king of the forest.
If I was the king of the forest. My wishes would become true.
I close my eyes.
Allowing my mind to travel to a summer day when youth was my wealth.
King of the forest.
When I was unstoppable and all dreams were in reach.
If I could.
Be able to close my eyes. Again be unafraid.
For when I close my eyes.
I don’t remember the victories.
I feel the burden of mistakes only.
If I was the King of the forest.
Love would be forever.
Love would be my only desire.
For if I was King of the forest.
No-one could stop me from saving the world from the hunger
to destroy all things that are beautiful.
For If I was the king.
I would teach the child to love and to have great dreams.
I would erase thousand years of war and hate.
For if.
I could take away all the blood upon each hands,
maybe we could walk unafraid of other.
The King, I shall be.
Only in set-up dreams.
For my world is like a wild beast,
running toward death.
And I the King.
Can watch as drugs and alcohol steal all the hope and dreams of youth.
Rich men leading the world to a self-suicide.
Bringing death and wounds to the young people learning to live.
I.Will stand and watch.
For only in dreams shall I find the strength to battle.
For the words of the King.
Cannot be heard through the scream of the suffering.
Coyote
1978/re-write 2013
Hi John, I enjoyed your beautiful poem. It is true that we need more love and compassion.
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Rare leaders talk of peace. We must rebith the hope.
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Beautiful. Glimpses of the wonderful father in the making was already there…… 🙂
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Old dreams are still the dream. Just few speak of them today. Which is sad. Thank you my friend for reading and the comment.
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A good poem. This reminds me of the mantra from my youngest daughter when she didn’t do as she was expected. “Would have, could have, should have, if only I didn’t.’
(Check your first line – King or kind or have I misunderstood).
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Thank you for reading and the help.
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