my interpretation of “woke”

You read Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States and, on that basis or a similar basis, you’ve shaken yourself out of a fantasy-dream of affluence and progress. You’ve woken up to disturbing fundamental truths.

or

When the animals come to us,
…. asking for our help,
…. will we know what they are saying?
When the plants speak truth to us
…. in their delicate, beautiful language,
…. will we be able to answer them?
When the planet itself
…. sings to us in our dreams,
…. will we be able to wake ourselves, and act?
…………………………….. — Gary Lawless