surreal dreams of my childhood

white, puffy clouds

suspended in midair

defy gravity's will,

making their fair passage

across a deep blue sky.

.

my 7-year old eyes

became mesmerized—

.

are those birds?

why do clouds float unabated

while my feet remain shackled

to the ground beneath me?

.

only a short walk

down the ol' brick road,

the park offers vast theater,

featuring a full, open skyscape.

.

lying flat on the grass,

i watched clouds glide—

slowly closing my eyes,

dreaming of the world above.

.

as my breathing slows,

a warm, summer breeze

whispers its song in my ear:

.

you can fly,

you can fly—

just believe and try!

.

hypnotized by nature's anthem,

my soul subscribes and slowly levitates,

leaving my body behind,

my imagination takes pilot.

.

at long last, i did it!—

i was no longer bound by gravity!

an endless sky atop a larger world

awaits my newfound expedition.

.

rushing towards the clouds,

i eagerly explored

what hidden treasures await

inside the cumulus sanctuary.

.

hidden within its inner sanctum,

floating castles and surreal platforms

conjured magically,

just in time for my arrival.

.

a secret world reveals itself—

surrounded by a cotton ball heaven,

shielded from gravity abiding citizens below.

.

cue the heavenly trumpets—

an announcer speaks:

a former terrestrial has arrived

to visit our fair world!

the cumulus citizens wave.

.

after my fair tour,

its citizens bid me adieu,

curious about the world below,

floating downward ever so slowly.

.

descending from the fluffy heavens,

the clouds began thinning,

giving way to vivid views

far beyond my neighborhood streets.

.

in all directions,

every square inch of surface

contained new terrestrial objects

claiming the surface as its home—

.

colossal, mighty trees,

clear, pristine lakes,

bold, gargantuan mountains,

vast, grassy plains.

.

consumed by diverse landscapes,

i was finally convinced—

gravity was no more!

the world was mine to explore!

.

before i could decide,

my eyes glanced downward;

something popped out immediately—

a young boy napping in the park.

.

wait—is that me?

am i just floating up here

while my body rests in the park?

.

reality checks in—

it's time to return!

gravity commands me

backed by a thunderous tone.

.

unable to fight it,

my soul crashes home

the shockwave resumes reality

starting with a gasp.

.

blinded by the summer sun,

i turn my head—

adjacent grass blades wave

tree branches sway

.

no! this cannot be!

why am i back here?

the floating castles,

the vivid landscapes—

i thought gravity was defeated!

.

beaming with relentless desires

to drift among the clouds again,

i chanted the breeze's song once more:

i can fly, i can fly!

.

i jumped with all my might,

but as soon as i lifted off,

gravity latched itself onto me,

dragging my body and dreams

back to reality's terrestrial surface.

.

meanwhile, white fluffy clouds

continued scraping the sky,

openly defying the whims of gravity,

as they trek onwards

towards a far, distant land.

.

no matter my magnitude of desire

gravity's spell could not be broken.

i was stuck amongst the terrestrials—

a stark reality, i had to accept.

.

i dusted myself off

letting out a massive sigh,

defeated, but not undetermined.

.

i swore an oath to myself—

i will grow up to trailblaze

the path that takes me upward,

returning to that world

hidden from the cloudy sanctuary.

.

gravity may have won the battle,

to keep my body at bay,

but gravity has not won the war;

my dreams shall soar again.