Rocks from grandma’s driveway-----
Shining like gold.
Broken crayons,
Red and black-----
A looking glass
Behold!
A box of jacks
To bounce and grab.
A boat,
To set sail.
A button spinning on a string,
Minds turn ‘round and ‘round.
King Edward smiles upon
The treasures of a child
And whispers to her imagination
Run child, Run wild.
Note: When I was young I used to keep my “treasures” in a King Edward cigar box that my father had given me. The items in that box were as important to me as King Solomon’s gold. I kept the box hidden behind a wall in the attic. The box contained many things…a top, a yo-yo, marbles, rocks, buttons, string, and a plastic pony and cowboy. A toy made of a button and string and marbles were my favorite things.
My grandfather made toys for me. He introduced me to the button and string. I spent hours spinning the button on the string. I often dug for marbles in my grandmother’s driveway. I found some beautiful marbles that belonged to my uncle when he was a boy. In a world in which children are focused on video games and virtual worlds - knowing nothing about pick-up sticks, jacks, or marbles – I teach the young people I know how to play marbles. My imagination was my friend. I still have my treasures.
