A child’s dream of adventure
on Sheila Ash (India), 06/Mar/2018 10:12, 34 days ago
Languid days when I would lie in prairie grasses nine feet highgazing long and hard upon a dream land fresh and sweetI’d trace the peaks and valleys there and walk its silken streets.I’d swim in waters fresh and clear and dance from cloud to cloudI’d take repose and rest awhile upon the billows deepwhere fast and long I’d slumber on in unimpeded sleep.Revived, refreshed, to do my best the hero I would riseto fight the daemon dragon king with murder in its eyeswith fiery breath that blasted nigh it roamed across the skiesbut with my crossbow I would cause its ultimate demise.Or, like Jim Hawkins, I would be a runaway to ship and seaI’d climb the rigging, raise the sails, perhaps like Ahab find a whaleor better still a secret map that told a buried treasure taleOf places lying undiscovered, more imploring than later loversto the Barbary Coast with buccaneers, to the Amazon jungle with pioneersI explored the world’s exotic places, travelling with Stevenson to Samoa,riding the Silk Route with Marco Polo, going into space aboard Apollo.Like Robin Hood I’d take an oath I’d never break or disavowto help the poor subjected ones, those bent in deep kowtowthose shackled to another’s will, the crestfallen, and the cowed.I’d run the gauntlet, forge the brook, see off invaders meanI’d hunt the deer and track the boars that roam the forests greenSteal tarts with the Knave of Hearts, play croquet with the Queen.I’d drive the giants from out their lair with heavy heart and grateful prayerI’d rescue the young maiden fair and bring her safely homethen drink and wench the night away fight well in bar-rooms brawlsHave minstrels write me into songs sung late banquet hallsThen in the morning I would wake and off to school I’d gobehind me lay unfinished tales of glory and of woetales of heroes , tales of yore, a vampire one of blood and gorebut after class you’d find me back, nose in a book once more.© Sheila Ash, 2018ashramblings