LET'S PLAY PRETEND

Alyssa Dean

When I was a kid

I played outside a lot,

creating my own worlds 

in our backyard. 

I would fight dangerous monsters,

wield great magic,

and save the world. 

Seems like I was always fighting

something dangerous at home.

Wild blackberry bushes

hiding snakes just within. 

Honeysuckle flowers

with bees buzzing around. 

The porch light 

with wasps flying in and out. 

But inside was always the most dangerous. 

A double wide trailer

filled with temperamental family.

A cousin shouting at my mother,

fists on cheeks. 

An uncle arguing with my father 

hands on throats.

My father in the den

assembling my desk,

fire spewing from his mouth

like a dragon in its cave. 

I cowered outside in my

Giant cane bamboo castle,

trying to summon my magic

to confront the raging dragon. 

But only heroes fight dragons, 

and I was only a hero 

in my made up world,

in my make believe fairy garden, 

outside that double wide 

dragon’s lair.

Alyssa Dean

Alyssa is a graduate of Arkansas State University, where she was awarded a BA in Creative Media Production. She is a poet and prose writer and is forthcoming in Soul Poetry, Prose, & Arts Magazine.