I wrote this piece, and performed it in front of a few hundred people accompanied by one of my former apprentices, Brenda Gilbert (aka Windy Indy) on violin at Benedictine University’s annual scholarship breakfast in 2016.

“To dream, or not to dream,” you kidding me?

What an absurd question to ask… today

A day with many of us still not free

To even let our kids go out to play

Today is the day of black lives matter

Because those before said, “I am a man.”

Untitled dreams fade, as the brain scatters

“Honoring his dream”, means, “us making plans”

Dreams can become rainchecks never redeemed.

Dream deferred? Squandered opportunity.

Each day is a chance to dream a new dream

Or plan on making dreams realities.

So to conclude this sonnet’s recital

Thanks Dr. King, for your dream untitled.

Originally published on January 15, 2017.