Carousel Horses

When carousel horses

Come to life

You dream

You live a child's imagination

Fleeing adult captivity

Freeing possibility

To where anything can be.

My Mother rides

Round and round

Upon her ivory steed

Never stopping

A distant memory recounted

But if you ask her

Where she's gone

She cannot remember

It was some time ago

When pages turned

And stories told

Were all the rage

A child could know

Now cobwebs form

And dust settles from a storm

Like snowflakes on the lawn.

When carousel horses

Come to life

You dream

You live a child's imagination

Fleeing adult captivity

Freeing possibility

To where anything can be.

Sleeping, sleeping

Another world awakens

carousel horses sing

Their whinnying pronounces

A holiday from the king

"Go and roam

No pasture fences

To keep us in

Freedom, freedom

From within!"

And Mother's face cringes

Her curiosity turned to confusion

A ticking clock announces

Hours with a chime

Without reason.

When carousel horses

Come to life

You dream

You live a child's imagination

Fleeing adult captivity

Freeing possibility

To where anything can be.

D.A. Wittler 16'

From: My Summer of 81

I came across an old journal from the summer after I graduated from high school in 1981. It expresses many hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Some have been fulfilled while others were never meant to be. I hope you enjoy this short excerpt:

A man sat down upon the cold grey steps that led to sorrow, and pain; his heart lay heavy within his chest, and nothing could possibly reach him in the abysss of grief he had fallen into. A tear had formed in the corner of his eye, and ran slowly down his cheek, and fell to the steps with a silent patter. He looked up, and I could tell that he was staring at me through the dark black circles around his eyes, and somehow I knew he was grieving for me. I walked over to him, helped him to his feet, brushed off his clothing, and gave him some money for a bite to eat. He said, "Thank you," and disapeared as if he had never been there at all.

I wonder today if this was all just a dream from a past as uncertain then as the future is now. I really had no clue at the time where I was headed except that I gave the power of my future over to Uncle Sam to decide for the next four years. It still haunts me to imagine how things would have been different if I had not decided to procrastinate, and go out into the world under my own power. Was this man a future projection of the man I am today? Could it be that my insight then was as keen as it is today, or was I merely mired in self doubt as any young high school graduate about to be faced with the reality of self determination, and adult responsiblity?
For whatever it is worth, pay attention to your dreams, but do not get too caught up in meaning as some things are just reflections, or impresssions, while others give but a glimpse of what might be headed your way. For me today, it is quite prophetic to know the gift of insight is inborn, and who can afford not to take a moment to consider the possibilities? If I could go back to that time thirty five years ago, and be that man, I would have plenty to say... but that is for another day.

God Bless

Witt