Imagination

by jr paruolo
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The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.- Albert Einstein
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As a child they always talked of my potential
But I kept it locked away in my temple
In a place that existed in neither space nor time
A place no one but I could find -
Way back in the labyrinth of my mind.

And when they tapped on my skull and said -
"Let us in...let us into that place in your head -
It's time that you told us where it is hidden -
Just give us the key to unlock the door
Our tests show you have an exceedingly high score."

I could hear them outside probing around
But I sat there silently not making a sound
Hoping that they would just go away
And then I heard one of them say:

"We hesitate to operate for that will leave a scar
So please cooperate and leave the door ajar -
Just give us what we're looking for
And we won't bother you any more."

They persisted and pursued for quite a few years
but never gained access to my cognitive gears
Or tampered with my unborn ideas -
And finally one day they gave up and went away
Convinced I had nothing profound to say

And when they were gone I opened the door
to the world they had been looking for
the one where imagination runs through the streets
the one where ideas turn cartwheels and land on their feet
the one where dreams never sleep
all of this and much, much more...