Childhood Alchemy

Childhood Alchemy
 
It started with mud and water.
Stirred contemplatively, with scientific observations.
Progressed to pink flowers and juicy poisonous berries
Twigs, grasses, leaves of all shapes and colours.
Now obsessed by “witches brews”,
Experiments continued.

The potions lacked sparkle,
Some alchemical element.
Then, scouring a book’s pages,
Discovered a philosopher’s stone
 
My imagination swam
Ideas glittered like the droplets to be added...
Magical, measured ingredients swirled
My own universe in a crystal bowl.
 
Six-year old alchemist, I stirred the potion.
Pinpoints of hope grew...
Breathless for full emergence.
 
Next morning - the Horror!
No Elan Vital –     iiiii    !!!!!!   iiiiii    !!!!!!    iiiiii
Transparent multi-legged bodies with bulging black eyes
Stared back guiltlessly, even somersaulted.
These microscopic sea monsters,
Miniature psychopaths, devoured
My sea monkey family!

Science Scam # 1
Childhood innocence fleeing...
I flushed once to purge them from the fishbowl
And again, trying to purge them
From my imagination.