Think Like a Child (Sonnet Trilogy 1)

When I was a child, I thought like a child.
Time stretched out before me like a lush lawn.
Untamed edges called, welcoming and wild;
to the mysteries of life I was drawn.
Endless hours floated by like clouds in the sky,
changing shapes, going from pink puff to storm.
About the light show, I did not ask why—
hot air heavy, soon raindrops would form.
The orchard overgrown and thorny with age
drew me therein with its sweet tasting fruit.
I found plums, blue and firm, but worms did rage
in the crabapples, unproved, ailing root.
While the animals played across the sky,
pitiless time sneaked up and passed me by.

— deelilah, Jan 29, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Northwest USA, USA

Favorite Poets: E.E. Cummings, Robert W. Service, Emily Dickenson

Critiques

Janice Pearce

17 years 4 months ago

Dee

Beautiful, you drew me in, as it was so close to my childhood. Line 4 maybe a switch? I was drawn? [Just a sugestion] Nicely done~~ ______________________________________________________ Income-tax forms should be more realistic by allowing the taxpayer to list "Uncle Sam" as a dependent Anonymous

themoonman

17 years 4 months ago

Hi Dee...

indeed it passes too quickly and we are not aware until we are remembering... loved your thoughtful sonnet... agree with Janice on the switch but either way it reads very well... Richard

Stella

17 years 4 months ago

Hi Dee,I like this

Hi Dee, I like this melancholic write (reminds me a little of my I Remain poem in theme) 'Time stretched out before me like a lush lawn' How I feel that line... Agree as well on 'I was drawn' instead, actually read it that way, hope that's okay. ~Stella

Electric Blue

17 years 4 months ago

Think like a child

Dee This is still me. As a child and adult too. I wander the woods and open spaces find a spot and sit or lay and watch the clouds play. Some days are hot and humid. Cloud colours lilac and pink and other day storm clouds gather different pictures do I see. I drift and float on butterfly wings on journies unforetold. I feel the gentle rain on my face and again everything is shiny and new. But back to reality dreams spoiled. Perchance to dream, on another day. Just love this beautiful childhood remains always Electricblue

Race_9togo

17 years 4 months ago

Deelilah

I like it. I don't know if line 4 had "I was drawn" in front or back of the sentence, but I like the back. Love the lawn metaphor, a carefully manicured expanse of order surrounded by the chaos of life beyond. It implies an artificiality that I really like, the sense that it was put in place to protect childhood. I love it. The orchard....excellent! from order to ordered chaos! lol and the apples with the worms...how true is THAT??? and the fleeting passage of time is well captured. Last line is excellent...it ties in with part II, I'll bet. A most excellent write 5 stars "Laws and rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" : Race