A Hop, A Skip, and A Leap Away | Teen Ink

A Hop, A Skip, and A Leap Away

July 9, 2021
By SparrowSun ELITE, X, Vermont
SparrowSun ELITE, X, Vermont
200 articles 23 photos 1053 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It Will Be Good." (complicated semi-spiritual emotional story.)

"Upon his bench the pieces lay
As if an artwork on display
Of gears and hands
And wire-thin bands
That glisten in dim candle play." -Janice T., Clockwork[love that poem, dont know why, im not steampunk]


Step into a dawn cloud with me, walk to the horizon come sunrise. We will select one of the light pink clouds. A hop, a skip, and a leap away.  Walk right into cotton candy, feel the cool wet tingle as you pass. The cloud is greeting us. The dawn is greeting us. We are transported, and now see Japan, this cloud's memory from when the dawn shone above overseas. Indeed it's clear to see why this cloud was pink, for her favorite memory was a carpet of pink cherry blossoms, in full bloom, overlooked by a snow-peaked inactive volcano. Winds swirling and picking up a few pink petals from the lush grass hiding beneath. Rosy finches perched on some branches, their brown backs matching the trunks and pink chests of the petals, the trees in reverse. Robins painted wrong... or maybe better, righter. But we must go before it grows too late and we're trapped in the cloud all day. A hop, a skip, and a leap back home.

There's a yellow cloud. Shall we? A hop, a skip, and a leap away, step into the dawn cloud with me. Feel the lemon whipped cream make way for us? Feel the foamy bubbles pop against your skin? The cloud is greeting us. The dawn is greeting us. On the flat prairie floor glowing like a tiny sun, a silk rug is laid out, millions of tiny buttercups with shy green blades of grass peeking out here and there. Marigolds leap out in small, bright bursts, smiling at you, inviting you to play. It tempts you, so friendly, so innocent as they bob in the breeze. But we must not stop. Keep going, hurry now. A hop, a skip, and a leap back home.

Look now, the sun is rising, the phoenix fading as she climbs to the sky to be a dull yellow. Quickly now lest we miss it. Shall we be brave and see the sun's orange rays? Come now, step into the dawn sun with me. It's only a hop, a skip, and a leap away. Feel the flame gently burning? The sun is greeting us, the dawn is greeting us. A bonfire in the heart of day, the passionate heart burning in the young sun, searching for identity, for a favorite memory, a color. The flames lick the sky without malice, dancing with joy. Oh, oh to dance with them, oh to join them in their game. But we must depart, for the sun is climbing and will soon lose the gentle pastels of sunrise, and we shall be burned. Run now, flee our golden friend, until the dawn again when we can meet. Speedily, a hop, a skip, and a leap away. The sun is risen. 

The sun at last begins to set, the clouds come close to earth. we can return and see the sunrise, let ourselves be painted by their past. Red and gold and war with orange, let's explore, shall we? Farewell to the day, welcome the flame. See that orange cloud? Step into the dusk with me. It's only a hop, a skip, and a leap away. Shall we? Feel the tiger lily petals fall, silken petals caressing your skin? Don't be deceived, we are in the scarlet flame of sunset, when the mornings pastels burn brightest so we won't forget them by the night. Still, the cloud is welcoming us. The dusk is welcoming us. Behold this canyon! It must be the greatest in Arizona, with the vibrant hues. A hidden gem only the clouds can find. Oh, how blessed we are that she has shared this with us. the sunset is dulling now, lulling into sleep. We are safe, she will not burn us, but we have more to see, and soon she will go too far away. I know you will miss it, but we must. Remember? A hop, a skip, and a leap away.

Hurry, now, we must catch the red. Step into the dusk with me. It's only a hop, a skip, and a leap away. See the autumn leaves fall away for you? The cloud is welcoming us, the dusk is welcoming us. See the fields of tired poppy? Smell the sweet sleep and feel the soft cloud? Would a little nap really hurt? It is growing late, and this cloud has sweet dreams to give us... No! We must be strong, we must depart, we must hurry, hurry before we're caught in their spell. But now we know why this sleepy cloud chose dusk over dawn. Quickly, a hop, a skip, and a leap away, dear friend.

Now whirl about east to see the moon rise. Behold, Luna's silver glory. But first, shall we follow the blue? Step into the night cloud with me. Feel the waters part for us? The cloud is welcoming us, the night is welcoming us. See the cornflower all around, see how this cloud had been fog. Feel the silky-smooth petals? We are the very air around them, we are the fog, the night, the morning dew and nights mist. We surround these silent flowers, we are these flowers. No, no we're not. We belong elsewhere. We have so few more stops this night. Come, before we forget ourselves and stay in this spell forever. Though, would forever really be that bad? Yes, come, before we cannot. The familiar hop, skip, and leap away isn't too hard anymore?

Now hurry to the pewter moon, welcoming us with her soft glow. Step into the night with me and follow to the moon. It's only, after all, a hop, a skip, and a leap away. See the silver bells and gleaming snow? Children's laughter as they eagerly await jolly old Saint Nick? See the night humming with anticipation, see Christmas eve night? And the silver gleaming on the snow, the silver gleaming on the bells? The candles flicker, the child's whisper? Hurry now, the night will fly, and we are almost done. Truly, our final stop, will you journey to a star with me? Come on the hop, skip, and leap away. Feel the warmth hugging close, cleaving to you?  The star is welcoming you, the night is greeting you. See the firebugs flare at dark night when all other light is rare? Let us rest here, for our legs are tired and our journey done.


The author's comments:

(obviously) this is an edit of step into the dawn, widely considered by friends and family to be my best piece yet.

it's hard to label this fiction, it blurs the line of poetry and prose. it was written as fiction tho, so ill respect past self's wishes(tho past self was ashamed of poetry, so I'm not inclined to care, I just have to pick an option.)

this was from the prompt cherry blossoms from an abstract lense. 

i cut a lot out, so do read the other one.

this is like something you could read a kid before bedtime... DO NOT READ MOST OF MY STORIES OR POEMS BEFORE SLEEP. YOU WILL HAVE NIGHTMARES.


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This article has 6 comments.


on Jul. 17 2021 at 12:08 pm
SparrowSun ELITE, X, Vermont
200 articles 23 photos 1053 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It Will Be Good." (complicated semi-spiritual emotional story.)

"Upon his bench the pieces lay
As if an artwork on display
Of gears and hands
And wire-thin bands
That glisten in dim candle play." -Janice T., Clockwork[love that poem, dont know why, im not steampunk]

i sound like a broken record.

on Jul. 17 2021 at 12:08 pm
SparrowSun ELITE, X, Vermont
200 articles 23 photos 1053 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It Will Be Good." (complicated semi-spiritual emotional story.)

"Upon his bench the pieces lay
As if an artwork on display
Of gears and hands
And wire-thin bands
That glisten in dim candle play." -Janice T., Clockwork[love that poem, dont know why, im not steampunk]

i dont know what that is(i havent eaten normal food since third grade. the only gluten i eat is tiny pieces of bread every Sunday for sacrament and I use maple or honey instead of sugar. but at least I don't feel lonly when people eat food, I'm used to it. why arent i used to sitting alone?)

Lydiaq ELITE said...
on Jul. 16 2021 at 8:38 pm
Lydiaq ELITE, Somonauk, Illinois
172 articles 54 photos 1026 comments

Favorite Quote:
The universe must be a teenage girl. So much darkness, so many stars.
--me

This is like sweet sugar scented NyQuil in a sick night. Ah...

on Jul. 16 2021 at 4:26 pm
SparrowSun ELITE, X, Vermont
200 articles 23 photos 1053 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It Will Be Good." (complicated semi-spiritual emotional story.)

"Upon his bench the pieces lay
As if an artwork on display
Of gears and hands
And wire-thin bands
That glisten in dim candle play." -Janice T., Clockwork[love that poem, dont know why, im not steampunk]

i wrote a post of interwoven wolves paraleling a song by my favorite band, for king and country(the song was fight on fighter). it was pretty cool. echo was really sad(as always). I've been trying to find the episode that was in recently.

Lydiaq ELITE said...
on Jul. 15 2021 at 10:35 pm
Lydiaq ELITE, Somonauk, Illinois
172 articles 54 photos 1026 comments

Favorite Quote:
The universe must be a teenage girl. So much darkness, so many stars.
--me

@SparrowSun, I have this loony idea of writing a series of stories each based off the song on a certain playlist. I am only doing this because this musician who will remain unnamed (because it is special, so special it hurts to talk about it) has affected me and makes me want to write, better and better stuff. I couldn't explain it.

Lydiaq ELITE said...
on Jul. 15 2021 at 10:33 pm
Lydiaq ELITE, Somonauk, Illinois
172 articles 54 photos 1026 comments

Favorite Quote:
The universe must be a teenage girl. So much darkness, so many stars.
--me

Haven't read this yet, but I promise to. It looks great. You have such wonderful titles...oh gosh, now I am just wasting time when I should be reading it.