Frozen Dreams


Last night while the world dreamed,
I was counting the sorrows
I have hidden away
in my heart's secret chamber.

While sorting through the boxes,
I came upon an ancient door.
Evidently seldom used,
it was caked with decades of dust.

Surprised, I reached out my hand,
wondering where it could lead.
As I touched my fingers to the aged metal,
the door swung slowly inward.

A bitterly cold gust of air
struck me full in the face.
I took an involuntary step backwards,
taken aback by its intensity.

Although a bit uneasy,
I decided to venture inside.
My curiosity was aroused,
for I did not remember this place.

Stepping into the small chamber,
I shivered at the artic air.
An icy mist shrouded the room,
clouding my vision.

As I slowly moved forward,
I was enveloped by the cold darkness.
My toe struck a hard object,
lying quite low to the floor.

Reaching down, I felt a tiny box.
Although small, it was very heavy.
I quickly searched the rest of the room
but found nothing more.

Struggling to carry its weight,
I hefted the box through the doorway.
Then, I gratefully closed the door,
shutting out the frigid air.

I took the container with me
and settled into my chair.
Placing the box on the table,
I examined it more closely.

Now that the crust of ice
was melting away from the outside,
I could now clearly see
exquisite engravings on the box.

Made from what seemed to be
pure gold and trimmed with silver,
jewels were laid in delicate patterns
that ringed the handle of the ornately carved lid.

There did not seem to be a lock,
so I carefully pulled on the handle.
The lid opened surprisingly easy,
allowing me to view the treasure inside.

What I found there took my breath away,
and I was overcome by a feeling of profound joy.
Contained within this small box
was something I thought lost forever.

Filled to capacity and almost overflowing,
the chest contained every single one
of my childhood dreams and wishes,
encrusted with ice and perfectly preserved.

Lovingly and with great care,
I removed each from the box.
As they began to thaw,
they seemed to bloom before my eyes.

I sat there with them spread before me,
all so infinitely precious, their value beyond measure.
And as I tenderly I picked them up,
the essence of each filled my soul.

Sometime later, I carefully
packed them back away in the chest.
As I moved back toward the door.
a single tear of joy slipped down my check.

After putting the box safely away
I closed the door and then knelt before it.
I bowed my head as more tears filled my eyes
, and folded my hands in prayer.

There, in this secret chamber of my heart
where I usually count my sorrows,
I whispered a prayer of gratitude to the angel
that had long-ago visited my heart.

For, instead of counting my sorrows,
I had spent my night remembering my dreams,
and once again heard the echoing innocence
of the wishes I had made with wonder upon the stars.



Copywrite 2001 Maria G. Abernathey