Dream of Yesterday's Wishes

My life was a river, and I was a willow twig,  Bobbing on a creek toward the sea. Strong, fast, lively children tried to catch me and failed. The greatest sports hero, I dreamed I'd be.   A boy and a lovely girl held hands and gazed on A river that once was a brook, And I wished I'd have the most beautiful girl Whereupon the bright sun did look.  Floating along, I came upon a charming cottage With a window-box filled with flowers. I dreamed I'd have the grandest mansion ever built With balconies, turrets and towers.   As the water grew wider, and the sea grew nearer, I saw young willows, healthy, and green. I wished I would have all of the health and vigor Of a strapping boy of fifteen.  At last, the grand river emptied into the sea, Where beachgoers could hear the sound Of surf.  I heard it too, and I was still dreaming, As a wave crashed and I drowned.