Unicorn Dreams Copyright © 2009 Julie Sea-Borne

The baby unicorn was bored. The baby unicorn was lonely.
She looked around her shining land, so warm and safe and homely.
She sighed and shook her mane, her thoughts all out of rhyme,
And her mother touched her horn to hers and whispered low, it’s time!

It’s time for you to make a trip all unicorns make but twice.
It’s time for you to leave this land, so good and pure and nice.
For once we lived far away from here, and walked as one with man,
And now throughout their dreams you must go. Little One, yes you can!

Her mother led her to the shore of the shimmering Ocean of Dreams.
It divides our world from their shining land, or at least that’s how it seems.
Her mother shook her magical horn, and in a sparkling blast of gold,
A rainbow coloured boat appeared, with crimson sails unfurled.

Little One kissed her mother goodbye, and jumped onboard the boat,
And over the waves of deepest dreams, that little craft did float.
Her heart beat fast; her heart beat strong, at adventures yet to come,
At last the tiny boat was still, and then the Little One trotted on.

Into the dreams of a powerful king, as he lay in his bed.
Yet all was dark and dreary, a dungeon inside his head.
For all his power and might, friends and family had he none.
She shook her mane with pity, and then the Little One trotted on.

A serving lad came next, the lowest of them all.
Yet all was colourful in his dream, a feast, a party, a ball!
He danced with his rosy cheeked wife and friends, all having fun.
She stamped her hoof with pleasure, and then the Little One trotted on.

A princess lay in a silken bed, her dreams a sea of tears.
She was to marry an unknown king, and her head was full of fears.
And as she sighed and wished for love, but cried all hope was gone.
She bent her head in sadness, and then the Little One trotted on.

To a humble kitchen maid, so ragged, low and poor.
Yet at the thought of her wedding day, her happy heart did soar.
Her groom as poor as she, it’s true, but she knew he was the one.
She tossed her horn with joy, and then the Little One trotted on.

A pirate lay asleep on his ship, dreaming of his gold and its glitter.
Yet there was no joy in his cold hard heart, the gold might as well have been litter.
As he tossed and turned in anguish, at the evil deeds he’d done.
She neighed low with horror, and then the Little One trotted on.

An old and simple parson, his dreams full of thoughts of others.
Of a lifetime spent in giving to the poor, to all those sisters and brothers,
And as he fretted for ways to feed them, his heart so good and strong.
She wiped away her tears, and then the Little One trotted on.

At dawn she sailed again, across the Ocean of Dreams.
Thinking of all she had seen and learnt, of how life is not what it seems.
And when her mother came to greet her, with kisses warm and true.
Little One said, Oh, my dear mother! The things I must tell to you!

I have seen that a crown and power, do not happiness bring.
I have seen that the lowest born, can have good reason to sing.
I have found that freedom to choose, is worth its weight in gold,
And rags cannot humble you, when it is your own true love you hold.

I have learnt a life can be empty, when it is lived only for the sword.
But that a generous and a giving life, can be its own reward.
Her mother touched her horn to hers. You have learnt well, she said.
For so are men’s hearts revealed, when they lay sleeping in their bed.

And so a year and a day did pass, in that shimmering unicorn land.
Then her mother said. You must travel again, if you are to understand.
The power of a unicorn, as it travels through the night.
The glory of its passing, can sometimes turn wrong to right.

So once again the Little One went, in her boat with its sail of red,
And all manner of wonderful things she found, as they lay in their bed.
Could this be that lonely king, with a daughter on his knee?
And a beautiful queen by his side. How did this come to be?

That scared, unhappy princess, who came to be his bride,
Looked deep into her husband’s heart and saw the hope inside.
True love grew in an instant, to last their whole sweet life.
And gladly did the princess marry, happy to be his wife.

And what’s this? Their daughter’s nursemaid, with cheeks so red and rosy,
Is the kitchen maid in rags, who’d married her one and only.
Her husband so free and happy, a royal gardener now is he.
Growing flowers of such beauty, for all the world to see.

And what of that wicked pirate, with his heart so twisted and black?
Well, he met the old parson, when he led his men to attack.
That good old man spoke softly, such words of hope and trust.
That the pirate did repent, vowing to change his life he must.

So together with the parson, he roamed the ocean blue.
Giving away all his gold, looking for good deeds to do.
And when she saw the peace in his heart, his spirit now pure and strong.
She neighed aloud with glory, and then the Little One trotted on.

She returned home to her mother, glad her work was done.
Gazing at her shining land, and singing her unicorn song.
Tired from her journey, through dreams where we love and weep.
Her mother softly kissed her, and then the Little One fell asleep.