“I am dreaming with open eyes. I am dreaming. Yea, finally, I am dreaming with my eyes open while the sun goes down. Still, it is not evening.
This poem explores the complex journey of self-discovery, articulated through the speaker's reflections on identity and the act of dreaming. The opening lines, "I am dreaming with open eyes," suggest a state of awareness that contrasts with traditional notions of dreaming, indicating a desire for clarity and understanding while the world transitions into night. The phrase "Still, it is not evening" implies that despite this awareness, the speaker feels incomplete, as if the day has not fully transitioned into the night of self-realization.
The second stanza shifts focus to societal expectations, as the speaker dismisses conventional paths like becoming a doctor or lawyer, instead seeking a simpler, more authentic way to understand themselves. The line "To see myself in the mirror, but it is painful" captures the struggle of confronting one's true identity, suggesting that self-reflection can often lead to discomfort and emotional pain.
In the third stanza, the speaker claims to have seen themselves and read their shadow, which symbolizes the darker aspects of their identity. However, the admission that this is "not enough" reveals a yearning for a deeper connection, perhaps with a more divine or idealized self, as indicated by the mention of "angels who have evil wings." This paradox highlights the complexity of self-perception, where even the pursuit of higher ideals can be tainted by darker realities.
Finally, the concluding line emphasizes the struggle of reconciling the self with the ideal self, as the speaker attempts to dream about who they are while grappling with the notion of truly being themselves. This poem resonates with contemporary themes of identity crisis and the search for authenticity in a world filled with expectations and shadows.
| Word | In English | Plain (English) | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| dreaming | خواب دیکھنا | the act of imagining or experiencing visions while awake or asleep | dree-ming |
| painful | دردناک | causing physical or emotional discomfort | payn-ful |
| mirror | آئینہ | a reflective surface that shows an image | meer-er |
| shadow | سایہ | a dark shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface | sha-dow |
| angels | فرشتے | spiritual beings often depicted as messengers of God | an-gels |
| evil | برائی | profoundly immoral and malevolent | ee-vil |
| wings | پر | the appendages used by birds and some other animals for flying | wingz |
| actually | در حقیقت | in fact; really | ak-choo-uh-lee |
| becoming | بننا | the process of coming to be or growing into a particular state | bee-kum-ing |
| simple | سادہ | easily understood or done; uncomplicated | sim-pul |
| enough | کافی | sufficient; as much as needed | ee-nuf |
| tried | کوشش کی | made an effort to do something | tried |
| dream | خواب | a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep or awake | dreem |
| me | میں | the speaker or writer referring to themselves | mee |
The poet remains anonymous, but the themes reflect contemporary struggles with identity and self-perception.