Child’s Play

You are walking alone in the park. The swings, merry go round, and seesaw stand motionless as the early morning sun peeks over the tree tops. A gentle breeze forms ripples on the surface of a small pond at the center of the playground. Dragonflies frolic just out of reach of the hungry frogs. A turtle lays upon a large rock sunning itself as the ducks scramble into the water upon seeing you. Dressed in a white cotton short set, your feet are bare. The grass is thick, green and lush under your feet. Robins run along the ground chasing grasshoppers and worms. Daisies and dandelions dot the grassy perimeter. Remembering how care free and happy you felt as a child playing in the park you bend down and pick a handful of flowers and tuck one behind your ear. Not able to resist the urge, you pluck a dandelion and thoughtfully make a wish before blowing the little white tufts from the stem sending them floating about you. Stopping at the swings, you sit on one of the wooden seats to admire the view and reminisce. Starting slowly, you begin swinging to and fro gradually picking up speed. Just as when you were a child, you leap from the swing as it flies forward and up. Laughing, you land but a few feet away in the grass, on your bottom. Still laughing, you lie back on the carpet of green and look skyward. Clouds form animal shapes in the sky. You see sheep, whales, and lions as you lay relaxing in the sunshine. After a while, you stand and dust yourself off and walk to the pond to watch the ducks. Glancing down at yourself in the water you see two images, one of yourself as you are now, and one of yourself as the child you once were. Each has a daisy tucked behind their ear and they are holding hands and laughing. “Ring around the Rosie�?sings in your head as you watch adult and child fall to the ground in joyous laughter.

Suddenly, a turtle’s head pops up from the water. Seeing you surprises him and he scrambles away as you watch in disappointment as the image dissolves before your eyes. Where the images had been reflected, you now see a daisy floating on the surface of the water. Reaching down, you gather it up and hold it to your heart. Instantly you feel connected to your inner child. Everything seems fresh and new. You understand that imagination is nothing to be tossed casually to the side. It is a foundation for insight and creativity that can benefit all of your endeavors. It provides you with the ability to see beyond the mundane and opens your heart and eyes to beauty, magic, and wonder.

Standing, you look back at the swing. It is swaying to and fro. Childlike laughter whispers in your ears. Dancing about your head are the white tufts of a dandelion. Glancing up at the sky, the clouds form images of children dancing and playing. You tuck the flower gently behind your ear and turn to leave. A tear of joy slowly trickles down your cheek. Your heart and spirit are full of love, light, and peace.

Crystal Dragon Bard