Did They Know?

It is time for me to go

And they must have known it too.
For one by one they've arrived,
During this last week or two.

The butterfly that brooded and fussed,

Its wings delicately sheer.
Did it uncannily know,
That when summer prevailed,
I would no longer be here?

The echidna,

Who waddled across my path.
Did he know that this regular walk,
Would soon be one of my last?

Or the little bird,

That perched on my window sill,

Did he know that his ancient tune.

Would no longer rouse me,

As it echoed around the room?

Did those maggies know,

As they merrily splashed and preened?
Did they know that I will not be here,
To enjoy their next captivating scene?

Did those lady bugs know

When I held them in my hand?
That I would not be here,
When they next came to land?

Their unadorned beauty,

Which is often overlooked,
Is beauty nonetheless.
And it is these precious moments,
That showcase nature at its best.

They are magical and mythical

And I see them vividly clear.
I store these images,
So I can visit them,
When I am no longer here.

I know as I close the door for the very last time,
They will continue to visit from time to time.
It is squeals of laughter that will now pierce the air.
For it is a new family who will greet them ...
When I am no longer here.

Ari's Rocket

Ari wanted to be an astronaut.

She wanted to fly to the moon.
She wanted to borrow a rocket,
But only for an afternoon.

It was hard to borrow a rocket,
So Ari knew just what to do.
She'd build herself a rocket.
And then she'd fly it to the moon.

And when she got there,
She'd look for the brightest star,
The brightest star is the one that she'd need.
For the brightest star is where her Opa would be.'

Ari began collect all the things,

She'd need to build a rocket.
Tin cans, cardboard, string
And a whole bunch of other things.

"And this", said Daddy,
"You'll need this for your rocket."
As an enormous ball of rubber bands
Appeared from his pocket.

'But,' he said,
'Be home in time for tea.
Take Solar along,
To keep you company.'

Ari worked all day,

And she worked all night.
She worked until her rocket,
Was pretty much ready,
To take its first flight.

She hoisted it onto her cart,
And dragged it to the beach.
Where she balanced it on a cliff,
While Solar watched on from his seat.              

Ari pushed the buttons,
But the rocket wouldn't fly
Maybe there was just one more thing,
Just one last thing..
That she could try.

So with a burst of speed,

She ran as fast as she could
She flew off into the air,
As the rocket rattled and shook.

The rocket hung in the air,
It didn't make a sound.

It somersaulted once,
And sped towards the ground.

It hit the ground..
It hit the ground with a ...'SPLAT'
Out flew Ari,
And out flew the cat.

The cat shot off
And the rocket lay in a heap,

Her beautiful rocket,
Lay crumpled at her feet.

But as she lay there,
She saw something in the sand.
She took a closer look,
And reached out to touch it with her hand.

It glistened and shone,
And as she brushed the sand aside.
She saw ...
What had been washed up by the morning tide.

She scooped it up into both hands
For it was very small.
She gazed up at the stars and smiled
For she had found  ...  the brightest star of all.