Toddler's Dream

He stumbles and trips, walking through the dark forest. His new shoes hurt his sore feet. He continues on. Brushing past a sodden branch, the brittle limb snaps and breaks, It pinches his hand. Quickly he licks his finger. The stiff sap is thick and sweet. He finds it tasty. Reaching out he snaps another, it tastes like a candy cane. He is the hunter searching behind heavy eyes, head upon his soft pillow, sleepy little one filled with dreamy illusions of floating marshmallow clouds raining sweet nectar on golden lollipop trees. Atop rolling gum drop hills, seen through filmy eyes, he rides a cherry caboose on dark licorice whip rails. Outside he can see wispy strands of sugar floss rise from butter cream rivers, as Swedish fish jump over rock candy boulders of brightly colored sugar. Now he runs laughing in striped candy cane forests where gooey gummy bears play. He eats all of them, waking with a tummy ache from his drowsy fantasy. 8/26/2015