The Silliest Dream

SHORT STORY
THEMES: Death, grief and reconciliation through the eyes of a young child
READ TIME: less than 5 Minutes

Originally published as a children’s picture book of the same name. Illustrations by Ingrid Berzins

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One night as I lay asleep in my bed
The silliest dream came into my head

I dreamt that the world was covered in ice
And all of the people had turned into mice
And all of the rivers and all of the trees
Were frosty and still, as still as you please

I look at the ice, I look at the sky
I look as the mice go scurrying by

I open my mouth and struggle to speak
But all the words freeze and fall at my feet
I lift up my arms, as heavy as lead
And wave them around up over my head

But none of the mice can see I am there
Or maybe they can and don't really care. 

Next thing I know I'm standing on mars!
And all of the mice have turned into stars
And all of the snow and all of the light
Has melted away into the night

I look at the dark, I look at the stars
I look at myself floating on Mars.

Then something happens that's hard to explain
And after it happens it rains and it rains
And all of the stars splutter and hiss
Leaving the heavens all shrouded in mist

I look as the stars splutter and hiss
I look for myself lost in the mist

I feel like I might have been missing for years
When all of a sudden the mistiness clears
And high above home I circle the air
Flying in wait for the sun to appear

And that’s where it ends, it’s silly I know
The mist and the mice, the ice and the snow
Then just as I wake I hear someone say
Like they’re a star that’s far, far away...

"My love shines on," and I know what they mean
And that’s why I call it my silliest dream