Feet too frightened to cross a playground, I stand at the edge of a
suburban forest. I know that treasure awaits on the other side, if I am willing
to make the journey to Narnia.
Little Lucy was old enough to start a queen’s quest on her
own. I am unsure of myself as I measure my height against those of the
trees. I have no ruby slippers or red-hooded cloak, but I want very much to
rendezvous with werewolves and witches.
One tenuous toe steps in, then another...
Striding up to the glass doors, I arrive at the threshold of the wardrobe. Which worlds shall I explore? After filling my backpack with adventures, I am ready to return. The forest feels like an old friend as I march home.
Striding up to the glass doors, I arrive at the threshold of the wardrobe. Which worlds shall I explore? After filling my backpack with adventures, I am ready to return. The forest feels like an old friend as I march home.
Song Choice: Theme song from Indiana Jones
This resonates with me so much, Rommy! I adored the local library as a child and thought it was the most wonderful place in the world too.
ReplyDeleteYay for kindred spirits!
DeleteI so identify with this, Rommy - my favourite book and my favourite places, Narnia and the library. I still love going there.
ReplyDeleteIt's been ages since I've seen my first library (I moved out of state as an adult), but I'm still a frequent visitor to my local one. Best deal in the world:)
DeleteI Debra's and Kim's chants--libraries have always been fantastical worlds for me. And the first time I learned I could take books home from a library, dear goodness, I was as shocked and delight as Lucy when she first saw Narnia.
ReplyDeleteI really love the last stanza, the timidity of those first steps... the realization (and the gift) the adventure provides. Forests are glorious places (especially when they have words in them).
There was an actual forest. Well, LOL, it seemed like a forest to my young eyes. It was a block of undeveloped land filled with a ton of trees on either side of a street that was the main artery of the town I lived in. But forest or not, it wasn't getting in between me and my books.
DeleteI remembering taking off on my bike (with training wheels) down the sidewalk from my Grandmother's house for the first time. It was just a couple of blocks away and Grandmother could see me most of the way. She would take an afternoon nap and I would spend a couple of hours in the children's section. Pure magic. I loved your comparing it to Narnia and other wonderful books and characters!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a perfect way to spend the afternoon!
DeleteOhh yes! The world of books is as fascinating as it was back then!❤️ A lovely, lovely write Rommy!😍😍
ReplyDeleteThanks Sanaa
Delete....I want very much to rendezvous with werewolves and witches.... oh yes!!! ...and vampires... and fae... and ghosts/spirits. I MUST have books! Love this Rommy!
ReplyDeleteYaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas! I'm so glad you liked it.
DeleteI love how you wandered into the world of books at that time... I cannot remember such books, mostly grew up with Brother's Grim and Andersen's tales and those were too dark to live in.
ReplyDeleteLOL, C.S. Lewis's books were my gateway drug to the larger world of The Brother's Grim and Hans Christian Anderson. I also remember my Stephen King phase started rather soon afterwards.
DeleteI adore this... I love the terror and courage of taking that first step you describe and what magic can be found after that first step...
ReplyDeleteThanks Shelle. I am so glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteI love it! I have been walking to the library every week now for 66 years. Wow.
ReplyDeleteWhoa! That's awesome. :)
DeleteMy mother worked in a library and I would visit it after school, do my homework there and walk home with her when her shift was over. My reading was wide and an education in itself as I read adult novels and grew up quickly!
ReplyDeleteLOL, yeah, when I realized that the whole library was my oyster I'd go over and borrow liberally from both sections of the library.
DeleteLibraries are the most magical of places. I loved books, but I was so deep into multiple sports as a youth, and then college, and then career, and then failing eyesight when I retired, that my serious reading didn't really begin until I was 62-years-old, and I was given a Nook for Christmas 2009. The miracle of that NOOK unit for me was the ability to make the letters larger and put them on a black background. My reading skyrocketed. Now I read, and do my writing, on my iPad!
ReplyDeleteI discovered that I actually don't mind sports so much as an adult! Apparently I'm a pretty intense goalie, playing against my co-workers in friendly indoor soccer games with a nerf ball. :D
DeleteBetter late than never I say. And yay for tech that makes it easier for people to enjoy the magic or reading and writing.
This was certainly a most important day! How sad that so few children even know what or where a library is these days.
ReplyDeleteMy children know what a library is. It's just keeping track of where they last put their cards that is a problem! :D When they want a book they tag along with me and say, "Hey Mom, can you just check that one out too?"
DeleteThis is amazing :) What an adventure!
ReplyDeleteThanks Chrissa!
DeleteOMG so totally get this!!! I adore it. The music choice is hilarious.
ReplyDeleteLOL, I remember feeling a bit like Indiana Jones when I made the crossing by myself. I was a weird kid with a wild imagination.
DeleteKey elements of childhood captured here Rommy and just how significant was the world of literature then to the development of our imagination, indeed our potential. Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteMy already vivid imagination expanded a thousandfold once I was able to get myself to the library and back.
DeleteLove the adventure you took us on here.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it Vicki.
DeleteWhat a nice memory. An enjoyable read.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary
DeleteOh yes, the library was a magical, wondrous world indeed!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely :)
DeleteWhat a wonderful opening to a film that would make :D XXX
ReplyDeleteThat would be pretty cute, now that you mention it.
DeleteLove the direction that you went with the prompt - imbuing a real memory with fantasy. Awesome!
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd have a little fun with this prompt and see how the combination worked. I'm fairly happy with it. :D
DeleteYes, a fair share of Grimm's and Hans Christian Andersen to add to Indian mythology... what a magnificent world of books!
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me, I really ought to read more Indian mythology. I don't know too much about it.
DeleteI love this Rommy! And, I agree with Gina's comment! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you enjoyed it :)
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