The Marvelous Cardboard Box

The Marvelous Cardboard Box By Elton Camp As a child I had toys just like the rest, But there was one item that I liked best You might say it wasn’t even a toy at all The strong cardboard box, four feet tall It held a new appliance from the store I’d never seen a box near that fine before I was afraid that I would be out of luck My Dad said to throw back onto the truck When I asked to keep the box around He agreed with a disapproving frown “You have no need for it that I can see, But if you want to have it, OK with me.” That big box became my own fine retreat And to me, it was almost like a hotel suite It was where I could crawl right on inside Anytime that I decided I wanted to hide And in my imagination, I had no doubt As a fort, it would keep the Indians out Too, when I decided a hermit I would be, Then it became a private, dark cave to me For months, the box stayed in good shape Even the pouring rain it was able to take I one day cut out windows and a front door And then I could pretend like never before That it finally wore out couldn’t be denied Then I cut it all apart and made me a slide I’d scoot on it right down the steep hill So it was a wonderful thing to me still The box I had several decades in the past But, fond memories, the box did outlast If such a box should now fall into my care To play with it even now, I just might dare