THE BALLAD OF THE COSMIC CATERPILLAR

 

Carlton the caterpillar

loved to explore

the branches of the trees, way up high,

his days full of joy

but like many a boy

he dreamed of the clouds in the sky.

 

But unlike his friends,

his dreams knew no ends

and he couldn’t settle for the sky,

he dreamt of the stars

twinkling way overhead

and going very much higher.

 

‘Carlton’s Cosmic Dreams’

his mother used to tease

and everyone would laugh at the joke,

but Carlton would pout

for he didn’t enjoy

the fun that his mother would poke.

 

I’ll show you one day,

to himself he would say

as he nibbled upon a sweet bun

in his favourite tree

where the breeze blew free,

lazing on a branch in the sun.

 

There was talk in the town

for the day had arrived when

fireworks were let off in the park,

there was joy all around

and laughing like clowns

for they just couldn’t wait for the dark.

 

When night-time came

and the sun had gone down,

they gathered around on the green,

except Cosmic Carlton,

our high flying friend,

for he was nowhere to be seen.

 

The fireworks banged

and flashed and popped

going on like they never would stop,

excitement was high,

faces raised to the sky

for soon the rockets would be up.

 

Unbeknown to the crowd,

who were cheering out loud

our Carlton was sat at the tip

of a very large rocket

with hands in his pockets,

waiting for the fuse to be lit.

 

With a hiss and a fizzle

the rocket ignited

and shot to the heavens above,

Carlton held on tight

with all of his might

and a pair of super-grip gloves.

 

He blasted so high

up into the sky

that he screamed with joy and delight

but before the big show

he would have to let go

and begin his long return flight.

 

He jumped with a yell

and quickly he fell

through the sky amidst flashes and cracks,

multi-coloured stars

where shooting and popping

and one nearly shot up his back.

 

But our friend didn’t mind

for his dreams had come true

he was truly a cosmic explorer,

just wait till he told all

his friends where he’d been

but the ground was getting much closer.

 

He reached in his bag

and gave a great tug

so his parachute shot out overhead,

it had taken him months

to put it together out of

tissues and bits of old thread.

 

Slowly he sailed,

heading back to the field

for luckily the wind blew that way,

he would soon be down

in the middle of the crowd

and to his mates he’d have so much to say.

 

He had flown with the stars

in the milky way,

travelling as fast as a jet,

all his friends gathered round

in amazement and wonder,

on this day he would never forget.

 

 

Written by Darren Scanlon, 28^th April 2015.

©2015 Darren Scanlon. All rights reserved.