Amid a forest

I gaze at the trees swallowing me in shadow

Viridian leaves caress my head as I wander through

Vines tug at my boots,

Beckoning me to sink into the earth

Like a opaque mole on fair skin,

I spot a blot of red hiding in the shade of green

The glint of scarlet draws me in

Branches snatch at my hair and bushes tickle my arms,

I walk in a trance towards the color

The sun seems to grow hotter

The path elongates

I quicken my pace

Little fairy creatures cling to my sword hilt

I am a knight in the heart of the wood

Into the green and there’s no turning back

Onward and all alone

The trees look menacing now

But I’m nearly there

I hear my name being called

With my hand outstretched to the red ruby,

I turn my head

The trees begin to shrink

The forest rumbles 

Human-sized leaves dwindle to the size of my ear

My leather boots become glitter sneakers

My sword is now a Ticonderoga pencil

The fairies are bees and flies

¿Si?, I reply to the voice

The queen has arrived to escort me home

I’m coming!

I run out of my grandmother’s garden

Midway through I pause

Quickly turning back,

 I pluck a strawberry smaller than the size of my palm

I take my pencil and stick it in my tangled hair

I run out of the garden, strawberry in hand 

The knight needs to rest