Grown-Up Dreams

she told her that
when she wanted
to be a mermaid
when she grew up.

"and, i want a purple sparkly tail,"
the five-year-old declared
with utmost seriousness.

"you do?" she replied
as the five-year-old
looked up at her with stubborn hope.

"well, i think that would be beautiful,"
she said with a quick smile.
"i hope it has lots of sparkles."

"me, too," said the five-year-old
as she skipped off to play.

and she paused to consider how many
grown-ups were out there walking
around as super heroes, dinosaurs,
ballet dancers and astronauts
without even knowing it anymore.

continuing on with her day,
she dusted off her fairy wand
and sprinkled pixie dust wherever
she went, hoping to remind others
to wake up to their own five-year-old dreams.