The Saunterlings

Once upon a memory

and twice beyond a dream.

Three times behind a feathery

tickle of a garden stream.

*

Once upon a midnight day

and twice a fairy’s smile,

Three times I heard them knock and say,

“Come play with us awhile.”

*

“We are the Saunter twins, we are

we dilly-dally daily.

My brother here, he plays guitar.

I play the ukulele.”

*

“Wonder is my given name.

My friends all call me Sally.”

“And Marvel is my true first name,

But you can call me Jally.”

*

“And where we go, we’ll take you, too.

I’ll Silly-Sally saunter!”

“And into the beyonder blue

I’ll Jilly-Jally jaunter!”

*

“We are the bestest friends around.

We do so hope you’ll come

to our world of sight and sound

where magic things are from!”

*

“We live outside, beyond the veil

of things you touch and tap;

you’ll never see us put on sale,

or find us on your lap.”

*

“Oh no! Because there’s so much more

for you to feel and to explore -

a living dream is what’s in store!

Out there, with us, wonders galore!”

*

I sat there with my game on pause

and kind of contemplated;

I was never one to rush because

I oft procrastinated.

*

But I admit they made a case

I hitherto debated.

After a while, I had to face

that I was twitterpated.

*

I turned my head and looked outside.

Rain was falling from the sky.

Now, usually, I’d stay and hide

indoors, but something caught my eye.

*

The Saunterlings had hold of me;

they took me by surprise!

Wonder filled my mind with glee

and Marvel swelled my eyes!

*

It was then a shiver ran

right up my back and neck,

like a tiny little Peter Pan

no larger than a speck!

*

It zigzagged to and fro back there,

its tingly, silent cheer

goosebumped away my lassez-faire

all over, ear to ear!

*

I was hooked and out I went.

My mother was agog

by this singularly rare event!

She said, though, “Take the dog!”

*

“That’s right! We have a dog!” I thought.

I looked down and there she was!

I used to play with her a lot

for fun and just because.

*

I grabbed the leash and out we went.

She wagged and chuffed at me.

My Annie dog, from heaven sent

when I was only three!

*

Wonder winked at Jally, as we

sauntered down the lane.

Coyfully, she said to me,

“Look up and feel the rain.”

*

You might not believe this:

water fell down from the sky!

From up above, this great abyss,

a seeming limitless supply!

*

It fed the flowers and the trees.

It landed on my face.

It danced upon the swirling breeze!

It filled up all the space!

*

“A miracle!” the twins both said.

I nodded and agreed.

The blindfold on my eyes was shed;

once captive, I’d been freed!

*

I hadn’t seen the world this way

since I was prob’ly five!

That’s when I, myself, I heard me say,

“Everything’s alive!”

*

“You remember?” “Yes, I do!”

I said. “It’s like I have been sleeping,

then I woke up to find you

and the secret you were keeping!”

*

They smirked and said, “You’ve always known.

This is only the foundation.

Prepare to have your mind re-blown

there is no limitation!”

*

“You mean?” “Oh, yes! We think you know

our cousin – a relation.

You’ve met before, please say hello

to your Imagination!”