Child's Play

Child's Play
By Lady Kiya

You are walking alone in the park. The swings, merry go round, and
seesaw stand motionless as the early morning sun peeks over the tree
tops. A gentle breeze forms ripples on the surface of a small pond at
the center of the playground. Dragonflies frolic just out of reach of
the hungry frogs. A turtle lays upon a large rock sunning itself as
the ducks scramble into the water upon seeing you. Dressed in a white
cotton short set, your feet are bare. The grass is thick, green and
lush under your feet. Robins run along the ground chasing grasshoppers
and worms. Daisies and dandelions dot the grassy perimeter.
Remembering how care free and happy you felt as a child playing in the
park you bend down and pick a handful of flowers and tuck one behind
your ear. Not able to resist the urge, you pluck a dandelion and
thoughtfully make a wish before blowing the little white tufts from
the stem sending them floating about you. Stopping at the swings, you
sit on one of the wooden seats to admire the view and reminisce.
Starting slowly, you begin swinging to and fro gradually picking up
speed. Just as when you were a child, you leap from the swing as it
flies forward and up. Laughing, you land but a few feet away in the
grass, on your bottom. Still laughing, you lie back on the carpet of
green and look skyward. Clouds form animal shapes in the sky. You see
sheep, whales, and lions as you lay relaxing in the sunshine. After a
while, you stand and dust yourself off and walk to the pond to watch
the ducks. Glancing down at yourself in the water you see two images,
one of yourself as you are now, and one of yourself as the child you
once were. Each has a daisy tucked behind their ear and they are
holding hands and laughing. "Ring around the Rosie" sings in your head
as you watch adult and child fall to the ground in joyous laughter.

Suddenly, a turtle's head pops up from the water. Seeing you surprises
him and he scrambles away as you watch in disappointment as the image
dissolves before your eyes. Where the images had been reflected, you
now see a daisy floating on the surface of the water. Reaching down,
you gather it up and hold it to your heart. Instantly you feel
connected to your inner child. Everything seems fresh and new. You
understand that imagination is nothing to be tossed casually to the
side. It is a foundation for insight and creativity that can benefit
all of your endeavors. It provides you with the ability to see beyond
the mundane and opens your heart and eyes to beauty, magic, and
wonder.

Standing, you look back at the swing. It is swaying to and fro.
Childlike laughter whispers in your ears. Dancing about your head are
the white tufts of a dandelion. Glancing up at the sky, the clouds
form images of children dancing and playing. You tuck the flower
gently behind your ear and turn to leave. A tear of joy slowly
trickles down your cheek. Your heart and spirit are full of love,
light, and peace.