The Attic

A poem about childhood...

The dust in the attic

Fills the air like crackling static

Caught in the glow of the falling dawn

It creates an image, and then it’s gone

Of a thousand tiny fairies

Caught in the light, and you’re stuck there staring

Amazed

Caught in this temporary moment of grace

Of magic in the dust

Of suits of armor, on the empty bust

 

Empty crates, take another state

As castles, kingdoms, a magical place

Newspapers become buried treasure

And the room is larger than you could ever measure

Donned in old clothes, you’re regal

And the wardrobes are all your people

You swing your sword, a wooden cane

This world is real, it’s not a game

 

But the sun sets, and the light is gone

And without the glow, the room is wrong

The wardrobe leans, the people mean

The warmth has past, but you still you cast

A longing look at what could never last…

Author's Note

Something different I felt like doing. As children we have powerful imaginations, but it seems like it can never last...

Reviews

[Southern Cross]

To be a child is to have the ability to create magic. We never get too old.. just too weary. I used to love riding on Merry-go-Rounds or Roller coaster over and over..perhaps that's why my life is like a hamster wheel.

[MachinaWriter]

That's the perfect way of stating it. Too weary...its a sad truth. Sometimes I wish we could go back to those times. Visit the willow trees of our childhood and build a new house from what we find. Unfortunately, we often forget how to find it, though.

[MissEpic2902]

I loved this!! it reminded me of playing pretend with what few friend's i had as a child!!!

[Kelsey]

This is full of such imagination, it really shows what poetry is about. Not all poetry has to be about your past or strong feelings, although those make wonderful topics. Poetry can just as well be written about things like this, like a story in itself. Beautiful job. I suggest changing "magic" to "magical," though. I'm not sure why, but when I read it my mind went ahead and read "magical." Great job. (:

[MachinaWriter]

I took your advice and changed that. Thanks ^^ It really does fit better.

[b.platte]

This is exactly what I did when I was a kid. Wonderful perception of the child's mind. I love how you did add in the fact that the people looked mean when it got dark because that is what happens when the shadows make everything look scary.

I like how you broke it up too, like the kid was fixated on something and then leapt into something else and then it got dark and play time was over.

Great poem.

[MachinaWriter]

Thank you ^^ I'm glad you liked it. I had a lot of fun writing this one. Children have such powerful imaginations, to the point that it truly changes the way they see the world around them.

[Apatheia]

I love this. It really does show how a child imagines things so easily and i love how it disappears at night. You have a talent.

[MachinaWriter]

Thank you. :) Childhood moments slip by far too quickly...

[Apatheia]

I agree completely