DREAMS
What matters if life is but a dream for dreams are as constant,
as envisioning, as deep and mysterious as the mind conjures
new ones, as real as all of life’s trappings. I am only as voiceless
as this clay tongue, as unknowing as the cosmic dust gathers
by these hands to become gloved in sleep
as much as could be revealed in dreams
to wrestle with the demonic fire. I spiral back to earth
where dreams unearthed make me a human, clear and divine
as heaven’s credence to all my utterings. When I go to sleep,
I hear the sound of horses running around and every day
I always wonder how the world started.
—from 2016 Rattle Young Poets Anthology
__________
Why do you like to write poetry?
Sophia Hopkins: “I have always loved reading, and all of the novels I have read inspired me to write. Some of my favorite authors are J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis, Roald Dahl, Raina Talgemeier, Gitty Daneshvari, and James Joyce (Joyce I usually read with my Dad). I had a dream the night before I wrote my published poem, and the words just flowed out of me. Whenever I get assigned any sort of writing assignments in class, I end up writing a lot more than most of the other students. I really feel the key to good writing is reading, because that way you have an expanded vocabulary to help you express yourself.”