Seconds

Four children roll down a hill. A kite flies in front of a huge yellow sun.

My first thing to do when this Lockdown is over
Is build me a rocket and fly to the moon
Befriend a wise alien who grants me three wishes
Then leap between stars floating from a balloon

Back down towards Earth, I’ll rejoice at her wonder
And softly I’ll land in green fields full of sheep
My wishes I’ll pull from my space-dusty pocket
For now, under oak tree, I’ll bury them deep

For now is not time to waste all my three wishes
For children run free with kites soaring above
For humans remember there’s joy in a second
For now, we’ve a world reinjected with love

But one day when marvelling in moments forgotten
I’ll dig up my wishes and scrunch my eyes tight
The moment of silence is chased off by laughter
As kites, love and seconds burst back into sight

Mark Bird ©2020