A man I know <br />Keeps his world in a box <br />It’s full of precious things <br />So he keeps it locked. <br />It contains his world <br />And all that he owns, <br />It has many secrets <br />That he alone knows. <br /> <br />It is big and square <br />And made of wood, <br />If you ask to look inside <br />He will say that you could <br />Provided you promise <br />That you shall not steal <br />Or drive it away for <br />At each corner are wheels. <br /> <br />It smells of smoke <br />As you climb in the door, <br />And the sides can all open <br />To make a dance floor. <br />There is music playing <br />As he holds out his hand, <br />So prepare to journey <br />To a magical land. <br /> <br />The heat of the stove <br />Makes it cosy and warm, <br />You know you are welcome <br />From dusk until dawn. <br />The light from the Tilley <br />Is soft and quite dim, <br />Adds to the woodsmoke <br />The smell of paraffin. <br /> <br />In one corner a shower <br />Fed by pipes made of copper, <br />Logs for the fire which <br />He cuts with a chopper. <br />Sythe, shears and hammer, <br />The tools of his trade, <br />And hung on a rail <br />The shirts that he’s made. <br /> <br />The mugs and the plates <br />Made from pewter and tin <br />Are all tied up neatly <br />With bright coloured string. <br />Clothes folded in drawers <br />With handles of glass, <br />Food in a cupboard <br />Carved in centuries past. <br /> <br />In the roof is a window <br />Where light from the moon <br />Shines down on the floor <br />And all round the room. <br />You climb up a step <br />To get to the bed <br />And on embroidered pillows <br />Lay down your head. <br /> <br />You lie on your back <br />With him by your side, <br />And count all the stars <br />With laughing eyes open wide. <br />Sleeping and waking <br />Still holding hands, <br />You know you have journeyed <br />To a magical land. <br /> <br />December 2001<br /><br />Josephine Dunn<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-world-in-a-box/
