I would wager that most of you have seen The Dead Poet’s Society at least once. But there is a poem that was originally in the script that you probably don’t know about. Todd Anderson’s poem. The only part of it that made it into the final cut can be seen here:
We ARE DREAMING of a NEW DAY
When a NEW DAY isn’t coming
We ARE WAITING for a BATTLE when
We ARE DREAMING of Yesterday when
yesterday is already gone.
We are waiting for SALVATION
When salvation what? We never find out. Nor would we have in the original script. Check it out.
This is a scene that was cut from after the play. Keating and the boys go to the cave and have the only meeting in which their teacher takes part, from the original screenplay:
The moon is full, the stars are out, the night is clear and cold. Every tree is covered with icicles. A freeze has turned the otherwise barren forest into a wintertime marvel. Mother Nature has covered the world with sparkling diamonds. Keating leads the group up a wooded path to a spot on a cliff overlooking the creek. The boys and girls look around. It’s an especially scenic place. All stand in silence for a moment, taking it in.
KEATING: We used to meet here on special occasions. Who would like to convene the meeting?
MEEKS: "We went to the woods because we wanted to suck all the marrow out of life.“ Anybody want to read?
Keating begins gathering up some firewood. Others help.
KEATING: Come on boys, don’t be shy.
CHARLIE: The thing you’ve been writing?
Todd’s volunteering surprises everyone. Todd steps forward and takes out some papers from his pocket. He passes slips of paper to each of the others.
TODD: Everybody read this between verses.
Todd opens his poem and reads.
TODD: "We are dreaming of tomorrow and tomorrow isn’t coming, We are dreaming of a glory that we don’t really want. We are dreaming of a new day when the new day’s here already. We are running from the battle when it’s one that must be fought.”
ALL: "And still we sleep.”
TODD: "We are listening for the calling but never really heeding, Hoping for the future when the future’s only plans. Dreaming of the wisdom that we are dodging daily, Praying for a savior when salvation’s in our hands.”
ALL: "And still we sleep.“
TODD: "And still we dream. And still we pray. And still we fear. (pause) And still we sleep.”
Todd closes his poem. There is a big applause.
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