When I was younger
I dreamt of royalty
I dreamt of dinosaurs and outer space
Of stars in the sky,
Of clouds shaped like sheep,
And giraffes stretching their necks to the sun.
I dreamt of love and rain that came down in buckets, in barrels
Of birds with wings so wide the lightest breeze sent them careening into the air.
I dreamt of fabulous parties with sparkling lights
Where ladies in ball-gowns twirled in extravagant circles
I dreamt of sunlight and shadows,
Of bejeweled caves and magic carpets,
Of fairies and woodland creatures and wizards with terrible, unspeakable power.
I believed in dreams, then, for I was young—
I know better now.