Poetry, Essays and Art By J.H. Dickinson from All-Creatures.org

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Childlike Wildness

A dream of childlike wildness.
Of rainbows, cotton candy clouds,
sun warmed faces, pinched giggle lines.

Small hands that grip paint brushes
as swords of purpose,
marked meaning.
Creators, joyful, world-wide wonderment.

We know nothing of the cynicism that follows.
Of purging heart-felt hope.
We are not broken – yet.

Adulted.
Convoluted.
Dissonant.
Dissolved.
Achingly discontent.

Amidst cruel normatives.
Cries of species under the human cosh.
Cries of human against human.

Eyes wide, cornered,
hope – less, yet I still rise
to see a rainbow.
Older now,
I touch my face,
that feels the sun.

I will fight on
to protect this world
for all species.

And for that child
that lingers somewhere
beneath old skin.
Awaiting... with childlike wildness.

© 2026 J.H. Dickinson

Posted on All-Creatures.org: June 4, 2026
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