Childhood Wishes Poem by Jim Yerman

I love the stars…the moon…the sun…the clouds…the wind…the flowers…the sea.
When I was growing up they were all mysterious…and special to me.

There was a time within my youth…from all of these my wishes stemmed
an innocent time…not so long ago, when I wished that I could be them.

But the wishes of a child are capricious…innocent…impulsive…not complex
and those wishes changed quite easily…from one wish to the next.

My first wish was to be a star. I loved the way they shined…but that was over soon.
"Why be a star, " I thought to myself, "when I could be the moon! "

I loved the moon but she spends all her time in darkness
and I thought, ‘that wouldn't be very much fun.'
"I no longer wish to be the moon." I announced. "I'd much rather be the sun! "

As much as I loved the sun, she's too hot
and up there, I imagined, no air conditioning's allowed….
"I no longer wish to be the sun." I exclaimed. "I'd rather be a cloud."

And though I loved the clouds…
they don't control their flight as they soar across the sky.
which made me wonder if that could be the cause…the reason that clouds cry.

As I continued making wishes to be the wind…the flowers…the sea
I began to wonder if any of these…ever wished they could be me.

If any of these wonders of nature…on the land below or the sky above
has a mind…a heart…a soul…has the ability to love.

Which made me think I must be pretty special…
to be able to wish…to dream…to hold on to a fantasy….
and so my final wish was to be happy…
as I continue being me.