Inspired by the hangman’s noose The ankle gently wrapped And the Matsu General’s ride To Places yet untapped A journey through a fool’s eye With careless bounce I paint Memories of the future play In a land without restraint roller skates help lasso frogs So Sparkle quick as you can skip jump and Gallop on tickled Feet To where unraveled rhythm began Hide and seek, and find your soul— Walk barefoot where you can. Where A kaleidoscope of finger-paints Squish between your toes Leaving trails of tales of places trod Where water only flows Carrot cakes and Mudpies Hush your stomach’s tone spin your dress on rocket ships That orbit the bubbles blown Sunshine wakes the lava beasts, They guard the castle sand, Cartwheels bloom like daisies tossed By somersault command. Hide and seek, and find your soul— Walk barefoot where you can. Blanket forts and giggle smoke, Hula hoops in tune, Skipping ropes and rainbows chase The spacemen to the moon. Unicorns and ponies dream, Their manes all sugared curls, Sparklers flash and smoke bombs bloom Like secrets told to swirls. Ice cream drips in rivers sweet, With sprinkles for the land, Puppy breath and teddy hearts Fly kites from little hands. Hide and seek, and find your soul— Walk barefoot where you can. Squirt guns pop like summer stars, Slip and slides unfold, Swimming deep where daylight hums And laughter turns to gold. Fireflies write secret maps To Christmas morning skies, Recess bells and skipping rocks Compose where magic lies. Wishes dig to China’s core Beneath the swing set sand, Hide and seek, and find your soul— Walk barefoot where you can.
