Recently my grandson’s class did an art project studying
Chagall. It was fascinating to see the images these six year-olds chose to
reflect their emerging sense of self-portrait and what they remembered as being
important to them. And satisfying to see that almost every child chose some
depiction of home or school as being a safe place. This is the age to be able
to dream big dreams, to become someone new every day and learn to stretch their
imagination into possibilities.
For some, this season becomes the root of direction. Perhaps
not the actual future vocation, but the essence of value begins to come to
light. For others, it’s a long journey. For all it’s a struggle to know when to
pursue a dream, and when it needs to be adapted.
One little girl splashed dance all over her portrait,
basically ignoring all the other categories. Motion and movement pour out of
her. Will she become a dancer—only time will tell if that dream is a concrete
reality—but somewhere music will need to be a large part of her life.
Most childhood dreams fade with laughter, however some fade
leaving behind a dark shadow when a piece of us becomes cut away along with the
dream. Or dismissed as being irrelevant—impossible—irresponsible.
Maybe for ourselves and our characters we need to stop,
reflect, remember our own self-portrait and see if we’ve forgotten something
important that needs to be refreshed. Langston Hughes captures that essence in his poem.
Dreams
by
Langston Hughes
"Hold
fast to dreams
For
if dreams die
Life
is a broken-winged bird
That
cannot fly
Hold
fast to dreams
For
when dreams go
Life
is a barren field
Frozen
with snow"
Journal Prompt:
1.
Two prominent images here are the broken-winged
bird and the barren field. What are some feelings you associate with these
images?
2.
What two or three words would your character use
to remember a broken dream?
Share: One image
you chose and your reason why.
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