The Dream Boat

 

At night, after I brush my teeth and crawl into my bed

I wait 'til everyone's asleep to slip out my window ledge.

I climb the rope that leads me way up high into the clouds,

Looking down below I see the lights, the cars, the crowds.

Right above the clouds my prized possession stays afloat,

And every night I climb up to the deck of my dream boat.

With my dream boat I can go anywhere I want to go,

In just a short ride through the clouds we can get to Tokyo.

Holland is nice this time of year and the tulips are exquisite,

The Great Wall of China is tough to walk but it's really nice to visit.

So pick a place out on the map and we'll sail off straightaway,

London, Russia, France, Belize or the San Francisco Bay.

We'll do as much as we can before our time runs out tonight,

We have to make it back home safe before the morning light.

Don't worry though, we have much more exploring still ahead.

Tomorrow night we'll sail again, so sleep for now instead.

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In my last post I mentioned how I saw an illustration on Pinterest one day that had inspired me to write a poem.  Instead of sharing the poem only, I thought I'd also share the illustration because it ties in with Alyssa's prompt:  "The almost inconsequential thing you observed, but can't seem to let go of or forget".  This illustration by Eliza Wheeler popped up on my Pinterest feed about 9 months ago and since seeing it, I couldn't get it out of my mind.  I pinned it immediately and have looked at it over and over again during the past 9 months.  It just reminds me of how much fun and freedom I felt when I was a kid, going on wild, magical adventures by using my imagination.  Grown ups don't live like that anymore.  We know what the world is like, we know the truths and the lies - but, that picture just seems to make reality melt away, if for just a few moments.

I'd love to turn that poem into a children's book someday.  Even if nobody but my mother buys it.  It's a dream of mine, a way to take my still active imagination and turn it into something real.  So, if anyone would like to give me feedback on the poem, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!