Dreamland

And now...a bit of whimsy!

Catherine sometimes sits in the sunshine 

With a mackerel cat and a pot full of tea 

Elizabeth offers to fill up her coffers 

And walks with her down to the sea 

 

Next year exhaling our hearts will go sailing 

To shores far away from us here 

We shall practice devices with coffee and spices 

And wander the streets without fear 

 

Searching for cinders and a way to remember 

She beckons her sister to play 

They run in the surf and kick up the turf 

As bright as the sun at midday 

 

They dig in the sand and walk holding hands 

While choosing the choicest of shells 

The long afternoon reaches back into June 

As they find brand new stories to tell 

 

All the house slumbers as the pair of them wonder 

At gifts left behind by the tides 

They tuck in their pleasures and pocket their treasures 

Lulled into closing their eyes 

 

While they are dreaming of starlight and scheming 

The shadows dance round in their heads 

And two little girls in ribbons and curls 

Have spent the night safely in bed! 

 

-Zoe Richardson

Reviews

[Stu. T.H.]

Wholesome and dreamy~! And an enjoyable read. It fills my mind with happy thoughts.
The work is seriously cute, author Zoe Richardson!

[Zoe Richardson]

'Seriously cute' may be my favorite oxymoron. Of course my poetry would be dichotomic. That is the nature of my personality. And the reason I take medication. Lol. I am glad you enjoyed the dreamlike quality. That is exactly what I was striving for!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Your signature tune of rhythmic, well metred rhyming poetry with a story to tell of dreaming.

[Zoe Richardson]

There's a story behind this behind of my own daughters when they were little. I am glad you like the rhyme structure and chose to read. Your praise is very much appreciated.

[Arundass TP]

Beautiful poem. Loved each line.

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank you! One of my earliest influences was Robert Louis Stevenson. His ability for crafting simple verses that are both visually appealing and profoundly moving stayed with me. I am glad you liked my rhytmes!

[emmajoygreen]

One of the most musical poems I've read lately, your meter is right on the button plus, as I was reading, was swaying a little! Also, thank you for sharing your story within poem skills, Zoe. Loved it all, start to finish! .

[Zoe Richardson]

Sometimes, when I am writing poetry, I imagine I am reading the poetry I loved as a child. I picture the way the words would look on a page, and the pictures that would illustrate those words. I am so glad you enjoyed the story, the poem and I am glad you chose to read my work! Thank you for your kind words and praise.

[emmajoygreen]

Waving thanks to both you and your poem for sharing. :)

[Lisasview]

Really enjoyed this read on Valentines day. Very good use of rhymes dear Zoe.
The flow and imagery were spot on.
Lisa, now in Spain

[Zoe Richardson]

I like telling stories with my poetry, and I love to rhyme. So often, rhyming poetry gets dismissed as trite. However, it is not easy to write rhyming verse and elevate the craft at the same time. I am so glad you enjoyed this!

[Gee]

In a sucker for well written rhyming verse with a tale to tell so this is right up my street. Would be a good one to illustrate:)
Hope you are well Zoe

[Zoe Richardson]

Oh do! Please do! I haven't the slightest artistic ability and would love to indulge your talents!

[hazy]

This was a great read. Your use of rhythm and imagery is very impressive, and I found myself smiling along to this poem. Reading it reminds me of being younger and careless, and it’s a good feeling.

[Zoe Richardson]

Why, thank you so much! I love working with rhyme, and I love when those rhymes hit their mark.

[willweb]

Very whimsical and enchanting. This definitely has all of the factors and acreage of the city limits of dreamland. A fun adventure through the slumbering minds or two little girls tucked safely in their beds...or are they. I really enjoyed this fantastic and fun poetic dream you have created. Nicely done.
I really enjoyed the rhyme scheme as well. I like how you did that.

[Zoe Richardson]

When my youngest was a toddler naptime was a chore. Lots of screaming and a fierce determination to STAY AWAKE. So...I invented Dreamland. I told her she was the only one who got to go to Dreamland. Her brother and sister couldn't go. If she was very still, and very quiet, a little cloud would come and take her to Dreamland, which was a magical place where all manner of wonderful things happened. This poem came out of that experience, and memories of my two daughters as girls. I'm glad you liked it and it achieved the whimsical vision I sought to create!

[willweb]

What a great story. Thank you for sharing that and your talent with me.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Ahh, how wonderful. Visions of a warm day in the sun and sand beat visions of sugarplums dancing in my head ten to one every time. This was a delightful read! I enjoyed.

[Zoe Richardson]

It was a delight to write. I remember how much I loved poetry as a child, and wanted to write something that children might enjoy. Thank you for taking the time to read it!

[Fabian G. Franklin]

It appealed to my childlike mind. I don't want to grow up. Because then I'd have to grow old, grumpy and yell at people to get off my lawn. (laughing)

[John the Baptist]

They might soon find that to be an attractive alternative. The outside world is an extremely dangerous place now.

[Zoe Richardson]

The outside world has always been dangerous. That is why we value dreams. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.