Tunnels From The Playground Poem by Ryan R

Tunnels from the Playground - By Ryan Renicker, September 2006
(Preliminary; editing under review.)

Safe in the womb.
Seen through eyes with a damaged lens, searching for sunshine, orbiting far away, blinding their eyes as each sunny day reappears.
Casting rays of light beckoning them affirming them of the spring-like recess: their living playground.

Children, heeding to the beat of the siren song of sunshine.
Music the live for and have forever lived.
And again, the drums in their hearts beat from within in their hearts such drums' beat always has and in fear must do so again.

In this Eden, this paradise these children will play; and dance to the tune of the sunshine's rays each day, all days this tune they hold as true.
In each reflex of the day and each day the same; they continue their game - hiding and seeking - fearful from them selves, the 'other'.
As children seeking, with hope and strength adhering to what their eyes and hearts feel best for them, within this playground, the children again play, and play, and stay for their games.

Innocent games.
Dreaming, playing, and embracing each sunny day while casting shadows by the sun's rays.
All knows, and every heart beats and their ears hear their inner cry, searching to be 'the king of the playground! '
Yes! I will.... Swing the highest! Climb the highest!
Become revered by all other children of this playground!

Today, the king has captured the sun!
The happiness the other children dream of, wish for.
Capturing the sun, in their soul becoming one.
Remaining loyal to their destiny, to follow the sun's rays in search of the sun, holding their sunshine of happiness.

Yes!
I will swing back and forth myself! Higher and higher! !
Every moment higher! !
Every day much higher! !
Toward the sun I shall capture! ! !

Yes!
I will climb. Ascending higher and higher, stepping up, then down..... Each and every day climbing! !
Higher and higher! !
Toward the sun! !
As each day passes, these children's dreams more distant and working ever harder.
Each day, learning more step.
By step. Step. Step.
But wait!

The sun is now closer to their eyes!
The siren song ringing louder and louder they hear!
The sun!
Beaming so bright into their eyes.
Brighter and brighter.
With ambitions soaring, closing in on their dreams of capturing the sun, their sunshine of eternal happiness!
To live this dream, to feel this dream as real one day, their play leads them to look one way.
Eyes staring at the sun, ears dancing to the siren song!
Sing aloud! ! !
For the time must have come! !

My trust is true, it must it must! ! ! !
High above, as if floating lightly in the sky as a cloud drifts along the cool breezes of the day.
Looking down, this cloud so proud.
On top of the world. The king!

The inspiration the other children below only dream of.
Lightness, lifting the heavy load of their accession.
Climbing, swinging today, as each day, yet floating, as if away.
Today, and each day ahead, never again as these other children clustered below, frantically trying to dance in the rays of the sun.
Forever, and never again as they are and always as they seek.

Their dream.
Where can it be?
Their dreams now dizzy their eyes weak, looking all around.
For me, my dream I can see, looking all around but - for me - how far above.
The other children on the ground!
Looking above, stars play and dance and glow in happiness.

As they seek, the sun's glow will flow to be theirs.
This sun of the playground.
Toward this sun they search each day, each step each swing, toward the sun.
Yet, while they climb, the toys upon which they depend, become beaten down, begin to crack and then … Snap! !

The rays of the sun, their sun they seek.
The rays the follow now suddenly out of sight - where am I?
Eyes lost in the night.
The heaviness of the child within - it can't be found.
As this dream plummets onto the solid ground.
The ground once stepped upon, shaking and striking within.

Their toys once played.
The joy to amaze.
So fragile, rusting, torn, tired.
Now lie resting on the ground.
And their majestic slides and towers once climbed…
Crash to the ground.
Lying all around, this rubble crumbled.
As the songs of the playground play no sound.

Children now lost.
Near the cold and rusty slides they had played.
These shards of ruin once used to play, are now away.
As their mind wanders astray.
Yesterday lost in today.

Sunny rays cloud their ways.
The path uncertain, not visible this day.
This lost sun, no rays to find.
The glow once shined blinded the eye.

In darkness, each child alone, searching for their.
This hidden slide among hidden souls.
Can I find my way?
Children, walking, blind, search for their slide.
Each slide among countless other slides unseen.
These tunnels, now their playground.
Merely rusty debris and frightening objects once played...all around.

They block their paths, taunting them to play.
These children lie all around, wandering toward their way.
Each must proceed.
To find their slide as their own.
A slide, among countless other slides.

This sole slide each child must find.
Slides, of darkness, not void of sharp edges each has.
This furious tunneling slide, to find and ride, past rocks each must kick aside.
Grinding down this slide.

They clinch these rocks.
The hold on, guiding down this dark maze.
A trench to enter, each edge a splinter.
Way down into the ground.
Not a sight, not a sound.

Each step at a time.
Slides in tunnels, never traveled before.
Tunnels, with rocks as edges - piercing flesh - such painful rocks all around, all the way down.
Sliding deep into the ground.

As each child fell off their toys once played.
These toys scattered among tunnels not yet found.
The unforeseen journey ahead - a lost tunnel.
Through darkness and in fear - each child must stride nowhere to hide.

They must travel into the depths within in search of the light deep inside.
Their purpose, meaning this slide serving to guide.
Down the tunnel of darkness of life their soul calls.
At its exit the true sun and rays each will find.

Now. Today. No need to hide, each child their own guide.
No sun. No rays. No shine from outside to blind their eyes.

For this path they make, their soul becomes awake.
Stray not!

Their life now free, their soul's sun fills each child inner rays.
Today.
Tomorrow.
Every day each child's playground they can now play.

Stand tall!
Fear not!
See from within!

This is the mountain's summit of each child's life.
Observe!
The peak beckons you to make your path.
This path toward each child, meaning will be found!

And the playground once played.
The sunshine once pursued.
Now shining below not blinding their view.
And the recess they now find within their shine.

The playground now entered - they find the school of life.
An enlightened life. New paths each must pursue.
Each child's vocation these journeys and paths lead to.