I’ll not tread lightly

โ€”

by

in

Remember school days and how we would play
like there was no tomorrow?
Now the castles we made
are the price we must pay
or flounder in oceans of sorrow.

Roaming wild and free, building houses in trees
as worlds waltzed to discordant tunes–
like a zephyr through grass,
gilded summer days passed,
left us flayed under Cheshire moons.

Wooden sword fights and valiant knights,
pirates, the Pan and his Bell,
faded from dreams,
rowed ungentle streams,
to where the real monsters dwell.

I’ve climbed faraway trees, seen fair Honah-Lee,
never never thought I’d grow old.
Now the pied piper calls —
as the last curtain falls,
leafless, I’ll trip into the wold.

Ryan Stone

image


Comments

74 responses to “I’ll not tread lightly”

  1. Some lovely images and memories. Time passes all too quickly…

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Thank you, Shirley. Yes – way too quickly ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 3 people

  2. Love the images you’ve created with your words; excellent descriptions! Also, a little taken aback by your photograph, as it is so similar to the one I chose for my post today. Great minds, I guess… ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Great minds, indeed! You can’t fight good taste ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thanks for your thoughtful feedback, Georgette.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. You’re welcome. Always a pleasure visiting your site. ๐Ÿ˜Š

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Always a pleasure to have you drop by ๐Ÿ™‚

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Ryan. …my new favorite writer. Thank you for gracing us with your insane depth and brilliant mind.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. I can’t even begin to describe how amazing your comments are, Souldiergirl. You are incredibly kind and have made my day. Thank you so much ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Well now I am smiling!! Thank you for sharing that with me Ryan. I adore your writings so you are very very welcome :))

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Sorry-found this last message in my spam folder ๐Ÿ˜ฆ Thank you once again, Souldiergirl ๐Ÿ™‚

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Well how dare it spam me! ;)) you are truly welcome Ryan

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Yes, it’s very rude…or maybe wordpress is just paying you back for not replying to my nice comments on your amazing ballerina post ๐Ÿ˜‰

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Whaaat!! I would never ignore you!! ๐Ÿ™€ I need to do some investigating.. *puts on Sherlock hat*

        Liked by 1 person

      6. ๐Ÿ˜‰

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Case solved :))

        Liked by 1 person

      8. Elementary, dear Souldiergirl ๐Ÿ˜‰

        Liked by 1 person

      9. Ha! You just made my night

        Like

  4. Time flies by so fast. I have started getting memories lately from way back, and it feels like yesterday. Really makes one notice present moments.
    Beautiful Writing.
    โ˜บ

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you for visiting and leaving such thoughtful feedback ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 2 people

  5. moonskittles Avatar
    moonskittles

    Ohhhh!! this one!! ๐Ÿ™‚ It does not have “burn” but it will definitely sound beautiful in your VERY poetic voice (okay, multi-talented voice ๐Ÿ˜‰ – I just discovered a chunk of your poems that I have not commented yet! Yay me!
    okay, okay, one thing at a time – this please ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 2 people

    1. My ego just asked me to inquire how much I owe you?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. moonskittles Avatar
        moonskittles

        ๐Ÿ™‚ ohhh.. about a dozen poems? ๐Ÿ˜€

        Liked by 1 person

      2. moonskittles Avatar
        moonskittles

        giggling!! yay!!! you are too good to me! ๐Ÿ˜€

        Liked by 1 person

  6. moonskittles Avatar
    moonskittles

    Wel.. i am speechless.. your voice really brings a beautiful nuance to this poem, a new dimension definitely. Okay, I have one new favorite word: moon ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€

    Liked by 2 people

    1. moonskittles Avatar
      moonskittles

      well* ( speechless and giddy, too many skittles bouncing ๐Ÿ˜€ )

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Haha, you’re far too sweet! Moon was always your favourite word ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Liked by 1 person

      1. moonskittles Avatar
        moonskittles

        ๐Ÿ˜€ but, I had not heard it said by you, now if i can get you say “skittles” hmmmm…. any skittles poem around there? ๐Ÿ˜€

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Skittles…burn…moon…gotta be a poem there somewhere ๐Ÿ˜‰

        Liked by 1 person

      3. moonskittles Avatar
        moonskittles

        YES!! YES!! YES!!!!!!!!!! ๐Ÿ˜€ when?

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Such delicacy, and beauty – this is amazing, Ryan โค

    Liked by 2 people

    1. You are wonderful, dear Nathalie. Thank you ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Reminiscing younger days and you’ve made me digs into old fantasy world and I’m recalling them with glee. Thanks for your dreamtime words.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Great to hear, mate! I love it when that happens ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  9. Profound, Ryan. I love your poetry. Your exquisite style wakes up one’s mind.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you so much, Eugenia. You have no idea how much I appreciate your kind words. Have a magic weekend ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You do the same. ๐Ÿ˜‰

        Liked by 2 people

  10. mandibelle16 Avatar
    mandibelle16

    Quite a fascinating piece, not sure where to begin. I think you say when we are young fairytales and stories seem so real and fun and true. There’s no shame in them b/c we’re young but they can end up hurting us b/c we eventually learn they’re not real. That’s the price we must pay looking back wanting to be young and free and play with those fairytale creatures but we can never go back to Pan and Neverland or the Cheshire Cat in Wonderland, and knowing we can’t stay young and that we are lives abc as people are lives are fallible, brief, and that we cannot stay young is scary. Being an adult is too real. At the end when he’s like a tree “leafless” I don’t know if he’s old and finally back to Neverland and fairytales in eternity. Or if he is overcome by the realization of his finite times and finally sees the real world for what it is. I hope it’s the first.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yes – you’ve interpreted my intention beautifully (as you usually do!). The first ending you’ve described is the one I intended, but I can certainly see how you came to the second idea as well. Thank you for investing so much time into reading, analyzing and sharing your thoughts – it is truly humbling and most appreciated. It’s such a nice feeling to know that something I wrote has been able to be enjoyed and understood by a friend. You’re a star, Mandi ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 2 people

      1. mandibelle16 Avatar
        mandibelle16

        Thanks Ryan. That’s very kind! ๐Ÿ˜Š

        Liked by 2 people

  11. Time does seem to move so fast. This is just so thought provoking. You’re so very talented. I’m going to follow one of the links you posted above and see what else luks around.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you so much ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re welcome!

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Dreams of yesteryear … I never thought growing older would be so damn hard …

    Liked by 2 people

  13. never never thought I’d grow old… yeah, that is so true….and yet!!!!!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. And yetโ€ฆ. Thanks for reading, Rajani ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  14. Absolutely beautiful

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Too kind. Thank you ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  15. Quite a, nostalgic piece, there’s, that hint of loss, in growing up, because we’re all, leaving our, childish innocence, behind.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Truly appreciated. Thank you ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  16. no stopping it

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Sometimes I wish I could see the world like I did when I was a kid, all bright and shiny. Everything seemed possible then.โœจ

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Truly. Thank you, Anoushka

      Like

  18. Lovely reflections on the fleeting nature of time and the nostalgia for carefree days. Your words evoke vivid imagery and emotions. Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi, Donald. Thank you for reading and also for your wonderful comments. Really appreciate it

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Takes me backโ€ฆ love the imagery here.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much, Shiloh ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  20. This is beautiful.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Sakeena Muskan 561 Avatar
    Sakeena Muskan 561

    Is that a Real picture? Wow. Thereโ€™s some kinda Peace truly. ๐Ÿ˜Œ Good one or Bad one? You must know!

    Liked by 1 person

  22. I’ll trip into the world until I find all the childhood realities and dreams that I left behind, too!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Childhood days were indeed simple, nothing to be worried about and then we magically surpassed all the years, toiling and turning old only to see back and smile.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lovely feedback, Kanchan. Thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Yes, those were the days, young and fearless …

    Liked by 1 person

  25. this is absolutely beautiful

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Oh childhood!

    Liked by 1 person

  27. I really enjoyed reading your poems, they are beautiful! I can not wait to read more poems written by you

    Like

  28. Starlight Avatar

    Climbed up & into every single land at the top of that magical tree. I remember it as vividly as yesterday.

    moonface, silky, dame washalot.

    The sadness that perforated my childhood bones for Puff & the imagery of Honah-Lee.

    also made me smile. A wry distant smirk saturated with nostalgia โœจ

    the Magic Beach?

    Thank you for a playful trip backward Ryan ๐Ÿ’—

    Liked by 1 person

    1. What a wonderful comment to read! Thank you for taking the time, Miss H – I couldnโ€™t be any happier that you found it so familiar. Perfect! Greatly appreciated ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

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