Have You Ever? A Poem For A Child

The concept of the power of the human mind to remember things both real and imagined has always fascinated me. Our imagination can conjure up emotions just as powerfully as those we experience from a memory based on reality.

This is a story I wrote for my daughter that focuses on imagining times past and futures unknown, of stepping into history through the imagination and using it to inspire your future.

Have you ever had an inkling that you’ve been someplace before?

That perhaps you’ve known the times long past?

Can you think of something more?

Chloe had this feeling too,

But she didn’t understand

So she asked her mother what she knew

About these far off lands.

Her mother said quite simply

“Close your eyes and think.

Have you been to ancient Egypt?

Did you try to climb the Sphinx?

Have you ever been a pirate?

And sailed on stormy seas?

Did you find a hidden treasure

On the Island of Chimpanzees?

Have you ever been an Eskimo?

And played with baby seals

Did you ever lounge with polar bears

And share their fishy meals?

Did you ever live on Saturn

And fly among the stars?

Did you ever cruise by Jupiter,

Or stop for lunch on Mars?

Do you recall Atlantis?

And the crystal palace bright?

Did you sing a song with dolphins

Until the morning light?

Did you ever ride a trusted horse

Across the wild west?

Or race another through the wood

Giving it your best?

Do you remember being King

And laughing from your throne?

Or were you very lonesome

With no place to call home?

Were you once a holy one

Sharing words of faith?

Helping those in desperate need

To overcome their fate?

You can go and be and see and do

All within your mind.

If you look real closely now,

What do you think you’ll find?”