Dreambeast
Listen to Mark reading his poem ...
If you have a dream
that won’t go away
that gnaws at your toes
with each waking day.
That sings beneath notes
and swirls between stars.
From lines in great books
it thrashes and gnarls.
From cinema screens
it leaps along light
and twists your insides
and stalks you at night.
Then give it attention.
Tame that wild dream.
It’s there for a reason
yet to be seen.
A beast of the future
only you own.
Don't let it escape
into the unknown.
Train it with care
and boost its esteem.
Spotlight it brightly
so it can be seen.
Or dreams can turn nasty
tire and groan.
Diminishing creatures
if left all alone.
The beast never dies
just shrinks and goes cold.
A lone, solemn dream
growing weary and old.
So feed it with strength
Believe that it’s real
Nurture with love
And trust how it feels
Fight the dream-bruisers
wish-batterers too
and splatterers of hope
who'll be waiting for you.
Feel the roar rumble.
Hear every shout.
It’s your beast of a dream
just dying to get out.
that won’t go away
that gnaws at your toes
with each waking day.
That sings beneath notes
and swirls between stars.
From lines in great books
it thrashes and gnarls.
From cinema screens
it leaps along light
and twists your insides
and stalks you at night.
Then give it attention.
Tame that wild dream.
It’s there for a reason
yet to be seen.
A beast of the future
only you own.
Don't let it escape
into the unknown.
Train it with care
and boost its esteem.
Spotlight it brightly
so it can be seen.
Or dreams can turn nasty
tire and groan.
Diminishing creatures
if left all alone.
The beast never dies
just shrinks and goes cold.
A lone, solemn dream
growing weary and old.
So feed it with strength
Believe that it’s real
Nurture with love
And trust how it feels
Fight the dream-bruisers
wish-batterers too
and splatterers of hope
who'll be waiting for you.
Feel the roar rumble.
Hear every shout.
It’s your beast of a dream
just dying to get out.
Picture by Chris White
About Chris White, the illustrator: Chris is a writer, illustrator and performance poet. He has made many appearances at festivals, school, theatres and libraries around the globe. He has had many poetry and story books published since his first, ‘Bitey the Veggie Vampire’, in 2000. He illustrates his own work and that of others, has had his poems and pictures broadcast on BBC TV and radio, and has worked for the British Government and the British Council on various projects.
This poem is copyright (©) Mark Bird 2025
About the Writer
Mark Bird
Mark Bird is a children’s author and teacher. He was born in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire and now lives in London. His debut picture book, ‘Halloween Date From Hell’ came out in October 2022 followed by ‘The Klangaroo’ in 2024. Mark has poems published in several anthologies including Ana Sampson’s ‘Heroes and Villains’, Gaby Morgan’s ‘Cosy Poems’, Brian Moses’ ‘The Best Ever Book of Funny Poems’, Kathryn Beevors’ ‘Peak Poetry’, Jonathan Humble’s ‘Sky Surfing’ and in Gill Education’s ‘Over The Moon’ series.
He also has poems featured in two 2025 anthologies from Macmillan:
‘Space - Royal Observatory Greenwich Poetry Book’, and ‘You’re Never Too Much - poems for every emotion’. Many more of Mark’s poems can be found on his website: www.Dreambeastpoems.com.
