Pretend by Adam Parry

 

1.

Pretend you’re a tree and come with me.

I’ll take you where the clouds were born

before they melt into the sea, where all the

Dolphins probably pee.

We’ll climb a ladder to the sky

and wonder how we got there.

 

2.

Pretend you’re a dog

just come out of the fog.

Throw off the clogs, the hooves

and stand aloof, forsooth, forsooth.

I’ll tell you a tale that’s delved

from stale hail.

Hail! We must prevail.

 

3.

The pocket pretended she was a locket

and put a silly hand into an electric

socket.

I lost her locket and stole her keys

when one day she pretended to be me.

 

4.

Pretend you’re a cat

Who had no mat upon she sat

Pretend you’re a door

who couldn’t say more.

Encore, encore!

 

5

Pretend you’re a head

gone slightly unsled.

Instead...instead of today

think twice for tomorrow

and three times for yesterday

and when today comes think only of then.

 

6.

Pretend you’re a human

If just for one day,

don’t look in the mirror

don’t run away.

Never forget that pause

in a lifetime

when you were human

when you were free.

A white slip of paper by Adam Parry and Where are you now?

The moon plays with clouds
another nightingale daydreams
splendid notions in a night of motion.



We're going to lose ourselves in the struggle for
birth and life.
I wonder if your back again, already
born again to some quick breeding creature
or maybe waiting to be born somewhere warm
where we wait.
I'm right here my old life
knowing that life is a bit more complicated than I ever imagined
no more myself and you are still being you uncomplicated
not some confused human
And I hope
your life as bee or buffalo, a tree or a tiger
will be better than the one I am still clinging on to.