Imagination

I gawked at everyone in growing panic,

Could this have been a case of veiled magic?

I made a valiant effort to speak,

Masterfully fling a magical word or two from my brain,

The prospect of success blatantly bleak,

My mind and mouth dumb, held captive by an unseen metal chain. 

In sheer panic I ran,

Far away from the waiting crowd, I ran.

At last I was in my garden,

Distressed I fell to the ground,

There was no one here to see me, or offer a pardon

And my tears flowed incessantly, making no sound, 

Oh, what was I to do?

I knew I had to speak at the to-do!

That’s when I saw the glass jar, 

“Oh!” I exclaimed; my tears ceasing abruptly, 

I recognised the tiny person in it from afar, 

I crawled to her; she tapped the jar sharply. 

How could I be in there, 

And also out here?

I picked up the jar delicately, 

And I lifted my eyes to ponder, 

Almost hesitantly, 

She did the same - this mini me - what a wonder!

Without much thought, 

I unscrewed the top and held my breath taut.

“Do you know who I am?” she piqued

I simply blinked.

“You trapped me in here, you know!” 

I said to myself, “What a blow”

“Are... Are you me?”

“Well, yes and no…. Don’t you see?”

I must admit I was in the dark, 

Cross legged I sat and waited for her remark. 

Still inside her prison, 

She walked to and fro, muttering a dime a dozen.

“I am your imagination,” she declared at last.

I stared at her aghast...

“We had golden times together, you and I.

We frolicked in the winds of Heaven.

We sang with fairies in mountains high, 

We swam with dolphins: one,two, maybe seven”

I recalled those days of fun, 

When I had won a battle with no gun!

“Magical stories we weaved, 

Grand adventures we told

At times, people around us were peeved

Other times, they heard our tales of the ever bold”

I lifted her out of her prison and placed her on my shoulder, 

I remembered her fondly, my companion and mighty upholder.

“How did I lose you?” I asked

And how did I leave her trapped?

My problem was unmasked

No wonder brain and speech were grimly wrapped.

“One day you wrote a book; We had the best time drafting it out.

It was published. People loved it. There was an instant sell-out”

I smiled at the vivid memory, 

Place to place I had travelled, 

And all that followed was glory.

The joy of success unravelled

“Soon you forgot me,you were too busy for a flight of imagination.

Sad and weary of neglect, I sought out my own fairy nation”

A purple haired witch, full of promises, bright as a star,

Showed me a golden dream of us together again, 

She wooed me with words, and walked me into the jar: 

“Here you shall rest,” she declared, “until she meets you again!” 

“And so I waited, hours and days, thrilled with your every appearance.

Yet, you never stayed long, and I grew more despondent with every disappearance.”

How cruel I felt as I hugged my friend to my heart,

I vowed to never leave her alone and forsaken 

I saw her smile and meld into my heart,

I stood up bravely and felt my soul awaken

I was in front of them again, and I told my tale, 

Of losing my friend, imagination, in a fairy tale. 

They listened to my words, fully engrossed, 

My eyes shined with the joy of it all, 

And I could have sworn, when they rose to applaud, 

I saw a purple haired fairy fly anon