SETTING: The World on Fire
CHARACTERS: Papa, Mama and Baby
TIME: 2 am in the shire
CURTAIN UP: or not, maybe…
The sound of the child
wailing to the wind.
Mama’s hair is wild.
Papa’s is pinned,
Tucked under his wizard hat,
as he sorts through boxes.
Mama’s headache is SPLAT!
Baby’s whine is obnoxious.
She tore apart her doll
for the third time this week.
She’s bored with her ball
and her screaming’s reached peak.
Papa usually handles these hassles
in a quick flick of his wand.
But since they’ve just moved castles,
he can’t make beds, baths or beyond.
The movers were so remiss
that his mind keeps getting twisted.
Aha! They mislabeled it “Office”
but the contents were still listed:
potions, pills, and plastic parts
“Thank you,” said Papa, “oh lords of the magic arts!”
Papa stormed up the stairs,
his box of treasures in tow.
There was no time to split hairs
but hairs could split time and make it slow.
He pulled a long strand
from the top of his head
dipped it into the potion and
watched it turn red.
Pouring it quickly
into the nib of his quill,
Papa swirled his wand swiftly
and time stood all but still.
Baby’s shriek slurred down,
the lull a welcome reprieve.
Papa crushed a pill ground
so Mama could be relieved.
He laid Mama down to sleep,
giving his weary wife a break.
As she was off counting sheep,
the Baby he could take.
Mending her doll toy
by each limb lost to her prying,
Papa managed to bring her some joy
or at least a pause to her crying.
He knew it wouldn’t be long
before getting one more chorus from this choir.
But someday soon he’ll be singing her song
as she’s setting the world on fire.
The natural progression to here:
This Castle We Built | Ode to Night Owls | Dear New Jersey,
Andy Meyer provided the words:
potions, pills, and plastic parts.
I can only blame my life for the rest of the inspiration.
