Elves of Childhood

“Very old are we men:
Our dreams are tales
Told in dim Eden
By Eve’s nightingales.”

– Walter de la Mare (1873 – 1956),
British poet and novelist

Childhood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELVES OF CHILDHOOD
(A child’s night dream, 44 years ago)

elusive elves dance ‘round bonfire
tapered hats twirling with sapphire
candied shoes shining and tinkling
each one held emeralds sparkling

they took him to a kingdom lost
everything was covered with frost
reckless, he fell on frozen stream
awake he did, ‘twas just a dream!

– December 2002

 

the elves of inequity in childhood
become
the ghosts of iniquity in adulthood.

( between
childhood and adulthood
is idealism.

between
elves and ghosts
is realism.

between
idealism and realism
is pragmatism.)

(c) 2002 Chito L. Aguilar