Children's Poem: "Playing Cowboy"

Children love pretending and they do it so well.

I love writing about children and that includes their awesome pretending. It always amazes me how real their little made up worlds are to them. It’s a natural part of childhood and it’s so important for them to try on parts of the grownup world to see if they ‘fit’.

When my three girls were small, they had a whole make believe world that was up in the sky. I don’t remember what they called it, so I’ll call it ‘Skyland’. It included the couch, chairs, tables, the ottoman and anything higher than, and off of, the floor.

Skyland often expanded as they pretended. Stacked couch cushions and bed pillows became jet planes, buildings, or whatever else they needed them to be. You never knew when you walked into the room what you might find —-but it was usually some sort of DANGER.

“Mommy, LOOK OUT!  You’re standing in a hot lava river (or quicksand, or a flood) We’ll save you!” Or, “Mommy, STOP! You’re in the middle of a forest fire! Everything all around you is burning! We’ll send a helicopter to save you!”

Playing Cowboy
by C.J. Heck

I love being a cowboy 
and riding my horse around the room. 
He's black and white and he won't bite 
('cause he's really Mommy's broom).

I shoot my guns at bad guys 
when I ride down the trail. 
(They're really just my dog and cat 
and my closet is the jail).

I like to rope wild horses, too,
and bring them to my camp.
(It’s really just the 'lectric cord)
uh oh, I broke the lamp!

Oops! Here comes the Sheriff, 
and I think he looks mad! 
I'd better clean this mess up … 
('cause the Sheriff's really Dad).

If you think about it, we never really outgrow pretending.  As adults, we also pretend by using our imagination.  i.e., you see a little sports car drive by that you’d love to have. You close your eyes and picture yourself behind the wheel. 

Heck, every time I buy a lottery ticket, I pretend I’m going to win ...

Poet/Writer/Author of 5 books.
Quora Top Writer 2018.
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