IF I was the king of the forest.

Old memories and old dreams.

                       If I was the King of the Forest.

American Soldiers drinking with boisterous and loud German women and men in a guesthouse.
Celebrating the May festival in Stuttgart in 1978.

Drinking the  cognac and good beer.
One of the German men yelled "A toast and a song."
He ordered a round of cognac for the table.

He raised his cup and spoke. "To peace and no more war."
He begin to sing. " If I was the King of the forest. I would have only friends. I would have no hunger and the people would dance and celebrate being alive.
Guns would be forgotten. War would because a myth.
If I was the king of the forest. People would not live with fear. All races and religion would be content.
Murder and death forgotten. This would be my wish. If I was the king of the forest."

He told us. "Toast to peace and utopia. I pray one day will come."

I left my celebrating friends. I wrote a poem.

          If I was the king of the forest.

If I was the kind of the forest. Wishes would become true.
I close my eyes.
Allowing my mind to travel to a summer day when youth was my wealth.

King of the forest.
When I was unstoppable and all dreams were in reach.

If I could.
Be able to close my eyes. Again be unafraid.
For when I close my eyes.
I don't remember the victories.
I feel the burden of mistakes only.

If I was the King of the forest.
Love would be forever.
Love would be my only desire.

For if I was King of the forest.
No-one could stop me from saving the world from the hunger
to destroy all things that are beautiful.

For If I was the king.
I would teach the child to love and to have great dreams.
I would erase thousand years of war and hate.

For if.
I could take away all the blood upon each hands,
maybe we could walk unafraid of other.

The King, I shall be.
Only in set-up dreams.
For my world is like a wild beast,
running toward death.

And I the King.
Can watch as drugs and alcohol steal all the hope and dreams of youth.
Rich men leading the world to a self-suicide.
Bringing death and wounds to the young people learning to live.

I.
Will stand and watch.
For only in dreams shall I find the strength to battle.
For the words of the King.

Cannot be heard through the scream of the suffering.

                                Coyote
                     1978/re-write 2013

Author's Note

Old poem. The world is in the same place.

Reviews

[KurKota]

IF only !!!!!......the two most fatalistic words perhaps in the English language....likely not a reasonably inteliigent person ever on this earth that hasn't wished they were King or Queen at least for the day. You penned the wishes nicely, good write.

[Carolann Dowsett]

Wow the last line gave me goose bumps. What a dream to live as such. Beautifully expressed. Great write!

[Cascara (aka Sprint Goe..]

i like the idealistic dreams you've penned over here

[Fabian G. Franklin]

There is always room for a good king, a noble king...a king brave and bold and true. You have that heart in you.

[Muse]

Growing up I too, and others I believe...would often think "what if I was King, Queen, President, I would do this this and this."

At a young age..we seemed to have all of the answers. And then we stop dreaming...I think it's sad that we often stop believing that the power is "in us" to make these changes.

Sigh...dreaming again to live in a perfect world.

[Valentine]

A true and sad write but you have put it all on paper so well..this is one of your best and you have delivered a poem that makes people stop and take a good look at theirselves..good going..Kathie

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Then I would be your queen! - I jest, indeed my good friend it's been a while since I've read you, and you never fail to excite and make me feel washed, a great read, well done.

[Robbie~xoxo~]

This is a beautiful dream!...and one I wish came true. Peace is so much in the minds of many and yet we have to bear the pain of war, strife, and hunger...having to deal with the consequences of it. Your heart is always in the right place, my friend. Great write!

[quinfinn]

i was in Germany in 1972 -74. they were a very proud and resilient people, full of life and laughter and , for the most part, peaceful and desirous of peace. it is by traveling through europe as a youth that i learned the importance of tolerance and understanding and how to appreciate all people and cultures. this is an excellent write, Coyote, and i am glad you decided to reinvent it for yourself and for us!

[Becky C Strukamp]

This is such a powerful write with absolute truths. Your message conveyed to the world, "If I were a king," what positives a good king, one that wants peace and love for everyone, no wars, no starving, no killings! Excellent work Coyote. This is wonderful! Thank you for sharing your heart!

[rnuff]

Wow this is so amazing, I like alot.