What Adults Have Forever Lost

At Disney World:
Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and friends,
A cast of cartoon characters.
Emma,
my 2-year-8-month-old granddaughter.
Her beautiful, mesmerized expression
of pure wonder, total acceptance, awe.
Unquestioning belief in the magic.
Unrestrained joy.
Running uninhibited straight into
the open arms of a 7-foot-tall blue bear
for a hug that swallows up her small body.
Conversing with Mickey and Minnie.
Childhood imagination.
Childhood innocence, unburdened
by the cruelty of reality.
The ability to truly live the fantasy.
“Mama, I am so happy!”


Harry Edward Gilleland      11.27.02    printer friendly