Willy was a wishing well
That no one came to see
All overlooked his little sign
“Wish right here for free!”

So no one came to wish with him
For rainbows or balloons
And no one came to wish with him
For lazy afternoons

He went to town
And there he found
None had read the sign

They said to make it bigger
And then they’d change their mind

He hurried home
His new sign shone
But still no one returned

Again back down
And asked the town
Aghast at what he learned

Now that they had read it
No one could understand
How a wish
Would be a good wish
When no money changed hands

He slunk back to his wishful spot
Resolved to make them see
That the best things you can wish for
Can be wished for free

But no one came to wish with him
To share their hopes and dreams
And no one came to wish with him
To spill their harebrained schemes

For Willy was a wishing well
That no one came to see

They’d used up all their wishes
On things from the TV

They told him not to do it
They said he shouldn’t try
They said that he was human
No way that he could fly

He knew that he would show them
One day that he would soar
They saw him always flailing
And said to try no more

So at night he practiced
Down beneath the dark
He learned to fly in secret
Deep in Forest Park

Out upon the playground
They poked and said mean things
Until he got the courage
And readied up his wings

His heart was quickly beating
Thumping like a drum
He sped off down the blacktop
The time had finally come

Rising rather sharply
No one made a sound
Looks were gone from faces
Jaws were on the ground

Now that he was airborne
He made his mind to leave
Just to keep on flapping
Towards somewhere they believe

MONSTER MASHQUERADE

Last night I met a monster
Walking down the street
Bumped into each other
Out to trick or treat

First I couldn’t see him
From the other costumed ones
But when it started raining
His makeup didn’t run

He said come back to my house
Let’s get out of the night
We sat around his front porch
He told me of his plight

He lived here with a family
Done so all his life
They had two other children
A husband and a wife

One day in the doorway
They’d found him in a shell
How he ended up there
They could never tell

At once they had decided
To raise him as their own
The way that he was different
They’d never make it known
 
As he grew he joined them
Even tried to play outside
But when it came to making friends
They’d all just run and hide

Together they arrived at
How to tone him down     
Walking ‘round in public
He’d wear a suit of brown

Best to hide the features
That scared the other creatures
To fit in with the children
And not distract his teachers

He bides his time all year
Dressed just like the rest
But when they dress like freaks
He struts his birthday best

On this day he dances
Through the streets at night
Dressed up as himself
Without a shriek in sight

They are the protectors
Of things we hope and dream
Miniscule reminders
There’s more than what it seems

They’re the mini merry ones
Who work behind our backs
Tiny little guardians
Who live between the cracks

Here so you remember
To stop and look around
And keep you from forgetting
There’s magic to be found