The wind pushes the swing

The gravity

Of the old oak tree

Whose limbs are open wide

Inviting

One more game of pirate's treasure

One more climb on the mainmast

Up

To the crows nest

To have a look-a-bout

Hurry

As the old ship is fading fast

And soon

I must sail too

Because soon

Trees will just be trees

And our adventures

Silly memories

And my existence

Lighthearted stories

You'll share when you see

Open and inviting limbs

Gnarled bark, perfect footing

This isn't goodbye

We meet again

After so many layers of life

And stacks of responsibilities

Age has a funny way

Of turning back

A confusion of confusion

As they tuck you away

In a room with a view

Of a tree

And I'll be there for you

We'll be pirates again

You and me

I touch you

                    Like I did

                               When you were 5

    And your parents ignored you

And I was the only thing

   That was permanent 

      To you

Like I did when you were 3

      And couldn't stop crying

Because your dog died

      And you thought it was your fault

But you-

               You don't believe in me anymore

And you ignore me

When I tried to talk to you

                                 Yesterday                                    

              You screamed

"Shut up!"

   And asked

           If you were going insane

But you're wrong

                It's me who's going insane

Because I thought you needed me

                                                                                                           And now you don't

But I still need you

                                                                                                             Since without you

I wouldn't have existed

Take responsibility

              Play with me forever

                                                        Please

                                                  I don't want you to grow up

And forget me

                                                                                                              Like all the others

Come back to me

You

        You're

                 The only one

Who'd play with me

                                And once 

                                               I was the only one you'd play with

But now

                                                                                                            You don't need me

You

                                                                                                               Leave me behind

You've

                                                                                                               Thrown me away

And

       I fade-

Come-

          Back...

No...

Her bravery knew no bounds,

Though my voice, to her,

No longer had a sound.

It was a malady, called time,

That struck my presence 

From her mind.

With her, I had a cape

Not all heroes, I thought,

Could have this shape.

She began with uncertainty,

But when she made me,

We walked boldly.

Her life, I changed,

Though the love we shared

Now fades.

Put aside, I joyfully cry

As I see her 

With light in her eyes.

Her confidence,

Bottomless.

At one time I was her very best friend,

Through thick and thin, to the very end.

But children grow older,

Imagination does smolder,

Increasingly less on me does she depend.

I remember the first time you and I met. You were surprised that you were finally getting ready to make a change from crawling to walking. Oh what fun that was. We had so many adventures together. I recall us going to different planets in so many galaxies. We transported from one life system to the next. & your parents were so excited to see that you had a great big interest in space. Then we went with them to a space center and saw the different planets in the planetarium. We sat in the play rockets and spaceships. Just the two of us. It was going to be us against the world. We were going to be best buds forever.

Two peas in a pod!

I knew that you were a kind, loving child and even before you went to bed, you'd pick me up as well. When your mother tucked you in and kissed you goodnight, you told her to wish me a goodnight too. I'd lay awake all night, anxious and waiting, for the next day of our adventures to continue. So they did. We went surfing on lava in Hawaii. We also went skiing down the Himalayas of India and diving into the deep waters of the cold, ice arctic waters. We visited the Sahara desert and also went to see the great pyramid of Giza. All what marvelous, scenic adventures we had together. I was certain they would last for a long time.

I knew that we would always be together.

Alas, one day, your parents told you that you were going to get ready for school. You didn't know what to expect. I sat right next to you and told you not to worry. I was going to be with you every step of the way. Then you were ready the next day. You packed your stuff and were ready to leave. I was not worried. I knew that you were going to be okay. Who knows? Maybe you would also make new friends.

We would all get to go on adventures together.

Days, weeks and months passed. You hadn't played with me in a while. You had made new friends at school and they would invite you over to their homes for sleepovers. I wondered if you had forgotten about me. One day, as you were seated in your room, you drew a picture of you and a friend. This frond of yours had wings and a magical wand. I looked could that be me. Yes, it was. Then I realized you were getting older and growing at a quick rate. You started doing more class work and reading more books on your own. You didn't sleep with the night light anymore too. I was happy to see how much you'd grown and accomplished.

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

Although, I know someday you will not need me by your side. When that day comes and I think that I am no longer needed, I know that I hold a special place in your heart and mind. We will always have our fun, good play times and memorable adventures.

You are a strong, young, brave girl. Never fear. Always let your imagination be your guide.

Forever your friend,

Love <3

Minerva.

If I could write you a letter I would ask why you are abandoning me. I am not the one who changed. Wasn't I there for you when you needed me? I am confused. You created me and now you forget me so easily. When you were afraid I gave you courage. Now I am afraid, but you don't know it. When you were sad I knew your tears and made you feel better. You do not hear my crying. When you were lonely and friendless I was your friend. Now I need a friend but you are leaving me behind.I have been with you through it all and now I'm disappearing from you and even from myself as if I've never been. I wonder if you will ever call me back through a memory. Good bye friend.

I watched you from afar 

I was there on your darkest days 

I was your night light 

I was your dragon slashing prince 

I held you in my arms 

when your daddy came home thundering up the stairs 

calling you to come here 

and your mommy crawled in corner with her arms on her head 

and accepting your beating 

then I came down and pulled the rug under your dads foot and he slipped and fell 

he hit his head so hard he passed out 

you and I snickered 

your mom enveloped us in hug 

and told me to pack your bags 

and you forgot to pack me 

and you turned back and look out the back of vans window and waved bye 

and I whispered through the window of the house

you don´t need me to protect you anymore 

because I killed the dragon for you.

Hey there kid-

We had a good run-

Full of love and happiness-

But I must leave you now-

For my job is nearly done-

Hey there kid-

I'll never be far-

Just look back at all the pictures of us you drew and told your mom about in the car-

I'll always be your friend-

Even as my time is near the very end-

Hey there kid-

Never forget to keep your head up-

Always go through life with your chin up-

Hey there kid-

I'm sorry but I have to go-

There's just one thing I want you to know-

I was your best friend and you are mine-

A friendship that deep will be remembered through time.

I'm sitting on the edge of his bed again. He hasn't acknowledged me in a couple of days and I'm starting to become fuzzy around the edges. It's happened before, when he's been sick, but I've always been called before the mist has reclaimed me. But this time it is odd. Almost as if he is forcing himself to ignore me, trying to pretend I don't exist. I don't like it. I don't like the fact that the friends he has over don't bring friends with them anymore. We used to play our own games while they frolicked around with each other. We would tell stories of our humans. But slowly, they stopped coming around. I had always likened the fading to a sickness, something that happens to us occasionally, but we always get better from. It is only now that I realize as I merge closer into the ether, into the mists of imagination, that I realize that the fading is not a result of us getting sick. It is a matter of the loss of imagination by our humans, their lack of faith in believing in us. It is sad that we have to fade because of this, but someday maybe I will be pulled back out of the mists by another young child looking for a friend. I will always be a friend to those who imagine.