The Beauty of Sleeping

By Jason, 18, WI

What do you always dream about?

Being a little kid with no fears.

What I want to be when I’m older.

What do you always dream about?

A big, bad monster under my bed.

Unicorns and rainbows in the sky.

What do you always dream about?

Seeing my grandparents one more time.

The childhood dog that should’ve stayed longer.

What do you always dream about?

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What inspired my work was just thinking about being a little kid. Kids have so many dreams and thoughts in general. They are very curious and always asking questions. I wanted the poem to build from the playful, imaginative dreams of small kids to more serious dreams concerning loss, reflecting a childhood growth from fantasy to reality. 

Photo by Steve Busch