Back to Life

Back to Life


Countless years,
the magic was absorbed...
through metal slide and plastic seat:
Peter Pan flights, pirate's rites,
wild west show-downs and late starry nights.

Limp chains hang rusted, swing seats cant earthward
grounded into the toe-scudded trough.
The see-saw has seen better days:
once two-headed dragon
now drags his wings and even the dandelions hang their heads.

Children long grown forgot the magic, went beyond
and the imagination station grew weary, trying to hang together:
needing laughter rivets, giggle paint, toe-touching the clouds optimism
and a good shower of 'what if we dids.'
The links to the past sighed, rust winning the battle.

"Mommy! Look! A swing! Can we fix it?"
Metal A-frame straightens at the longed for sound
and faded to pink plastic seat warms at possibilities.
"Some new chain, some paint, Daddy can add some new bolts
but you will have to do the important part!"

"Me? What can I do?"
The slide wriggled in anticipation, and the
see-saw saw once again.
"You have to add a gallon of fun, three pints of smiles
and a jelly jar of giggles! Can you do that?"

Sanded then painted with bright purple paint,
brass chains support that faded pink seat,
the see-saw and slide glide without squeak;
and it stands tall, and proud and sleek.
Alive again.

One last thing as the child swings:
giggled delight and all falls into place.
"Mommy! Look! I'm a princess in my castle!"
Peter Pan flights, pirate's rites,
wild west show-downs and late starry nights.