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, 28th April 2015.
©2015 Darren Scanlon. All rights reserved.
Thank you for following my blog! I had to read this post because I LOVE caterpillars (used to study them). Carleton is utterly charming!
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Thank you very much for you kind comments 😊
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Hi Darren. Great to have found you and thanks for your kind follow as well. Carlton is cosmic!! 😀💯
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Excellent! Cheers Chris. Welcome to my world! Keep Smiling 😊
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This is great, hugely enjoyable and with a hint of the fable about it. Loved reading it!
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Thanks Chris😊
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That was wonderful! This should be a children’s book.
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Thank you Candice.
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This caterpillar is a dreamer at heart, it reminds me of my childhood. Wonderful story, Darren!
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Thank you 😊
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Love it. Reminds of some of the things I read as a child. 🙂
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Thank you, glad you liked it.
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I feared he’d be blown to smithereens. Lucky, lucky Carlton. I agree, this is ‘cosmic.’ 🙂 A delightful read.
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Thank you very much.
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You are welcome.
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Love, love, love it! This would be a cool children’s book!
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Thanks, Yaya. I love writing children poetry. It allows the inner child to come out to play and have fun!
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I agree!
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Lucky caterpillar!
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Indeed, I’d love a go….
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Me, too, Darren. 🙂 To live through that kind of exhilarating experience and then be able to tell everyone about it would be pretty amazing. I love that he got teased about it and no one believed in his dream, but he didn’t give up or give in to the doubt. 🙂 Success!
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Very good. One could say, “COSMIC”
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Cheers matey!
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