Make-Believe

The day was rainy, dark and bleak.
From behind the clouds, the storms did peek.
Raindrops gathered in the creek,
while ladybugs under mushrooms did sneak.

At the window, she sat and stared,
her rainboots dangling beneath her chair.
Grasped in her hand was her teddy bear.
And then she moaned: "I just wanna go SOMEWHERE!"

Annalise is a curious girl,
who loves to dance, and sing, and twirl.
She colors and reads and plays peek-a-boo,
but on rainy days those things just wont do!

"Let's go to the playground and slide down the slide!"

"It's too wet and cold!", her nanny replied.

"What about the park, or the gardens, or zoo?"

"But all of those things are outside too!
Let's make-believe inside, we can find plenty to do!'

"Let's make a fort and hide from big bad wolves and big brown bears!"

But all Annalise saw were stuffed animals, sheets, and lots and lots of chairs.

"Let's pretend to be pirates and have a sword fight!"

But Annalise wasn't up for it, try as she might."!

Annalise sat on the floor, her head on her knees,
blue eyes wishing the rain would just "go away pleeeeease!!"

A smile spread across her nanny's face,
and she remembered a very charming place.

Taking the child by the hand,
she whisked her off to an enchanted land.

A land where dragons make donuts and giraffes sing songs;
a place where dogs make rainbows and little lambs are allowed to tag along!

"But where could this magical place possibly be?" said she.

"Follow me, and you will see,
this magical place they call the LIBRARY!"

They took the elevator to the second floor,
where there were children, and puppets, and books galore!!

Then guitar music softy drifted near,
bringing a melody to their ears.

And as if the magic bells did chime,
the man with the guitar said "It's Storytime!"

So, inside they went and took a seat on the ground,
Annalise's eyes widened as she looked all around.

Larger than life three characters took to the stage,
juggling and singing, as if they'd stepped right off a book page!

Mary-Mary, Library Pete, and the Professor too!
Her nanny whispered "They're here just for you.
Watch closely and you will find,
that imagination comes in many kinds."

Then a knock came from the Puppet House door,
and out came Tommy-Dog to say "hi" to children he adored.

Then J.J. the lamb
popped out like toast,
she's the master of peek-a-boo,
the game she loves most!

"Let's make a rainbow!" she said to Library Pete,
who then asked the children to help draw this colorful treat!

He then reached for the Rainbow Bus,
parked high in the sky,
which held beautiful crayons,
pleasing to the eye.

First red, then pink
and orange, and blue.
Then yellow, and purple,
and even green too!

"GREEN!?!" shouted a voice from within the castle walls,
"It's the most BEAUTIMOUS, of colors and my FAVORITEST of all!"

"Why it's Cedric the Dragon" exclaimed Library Pete,
"Come out and join us, there's lots of children to meet!"

"I was down at the Donut Shop", the green dragon cried out,
for "Donut Madness -- you should come check it out."

"Thanks for joining us" Library Pete said,
"We have songs that need singing, and books to be read."

Then Mary-Mary read a story aloud,
children leaning in closely, quite the captive crowd.

The Professor said it was then time for one last song,
so the children took to the stage, eager to sing along.

"We can't do it without Jimmy Giraffe" the Professor exclaimed,
"it's his favorite song, let's call out his name!"

Then without further waiting, out came a giraffe named Jimmy,
children welcoming him there, while waving and grinning.

The Professor lead the song with sign language and love,
as "What A Wonderful World" soared through the rafters above.

"Storytime is over, and it's time to go home".
But the child resisted, thinking this place was her own.

With hugs all around Annalise finally agreed,
that they could go home if they checked out LOTS of books to read.

So, off they went and waved goodbye,
to Mary-Mary, Pete, the Professor, and the Rainbow Bus in the sky!

Back at home settling in for a read,
Annalise was distracted by something she'd seen.

"Come quick!" she cried out, "Let's get into my fort!
Hurry! Come now, and please grab our swords!"

"What is it?", cried her nanny, "whatever do you see?"

"The pirates are attacking, heading straight for you and me!"

Her nanny felt a smile creep across her face,
as she couldn't help but think about the events throughout the day.

This little girl had learned to love
a land called Make-Believe,
through singing songs and reading books
and discovering how to dream.

Her fort was made of magic stones,
she no longer saw JUST sheets.
The drawbridge was strong and drawn,
to ward off unfair defeat.

She danced around the room,
seeing a world through different eyes;
fighting pirates, saving pixies,
escaping reality's demise.

And so they played throughout the day
in kingdoms far away,
and their heads were filled with many things
Imagination had brought their way.

And suddenly the child looked up,
and saw the sun was out.
Her nanny thought they'd go outside
where Annalise could run and jump and shout.

At the window she stood and stared,
her rain boots parked beneath the chair.
Grasped in her hand was her teddy bear.
And then she moaned: "I don't wanna go anywhere."

Then taking her nanny by the hand,
she whisked her off to an enchanted land.
A land of singing bears and dancing trees,
of flying dogs and jitterbuggin' bees.
A land supposedly only children see.
But let me say, between you and me,
I visit there often - land called Make-Believe.
Imagination is the key,
and if you use it to unlock your dreams,
you too will live happily...

...ever after.


The end.