by Cole McNamara / perilpoet

We have located your inner spark.
It was never lost—
just hiding under “Be practical”
and “Who do you think you are.”

Diagnosis: dusty, offended,
still dangerous in the best way.

Care instructions:

• Feed daily with small joys
  (clouds, good soup, songs too loud).

• Keep away from other people’s limits.

• Allow sudden surges of hope.

If anyone asks why you’re glowing,
blame the moon,
a solar flare,
or a minor glitch in reality.

We’ll know it’s you.

From: The Department of Whimsy

If you like this piece, you might also enjoy:

• Bumblebee Knees — a Whimsy poem set in a forest of upside-down bumblebee knees, lemonade seas, glass turtles, and dreams spun in the dark.
  
• The Diddleyes — a Whimsy poem about a many-eyed monster stalking the nonsense nights of Misember, where invented words and occling gazes turn playful language into creeping dread.