Cardboard Castles

By Alecia Hinston

The
ding-dong
of the doorbell
trumpets the arrival of a package:
a 5 by 3 box from IKEA!
Moms excited for her new table
but her seven year old daughter
runs to the front door
with wide eyes
for other reasons.

Once given Moms seal of approval,

the young girl triumphantly marches
through the kitchen
down the stairs
into the basement.
Like Cinderellas pumpkin to carriage,
a transformation is about to take place -from cardboard to castle.
Her building materials are
stacked against the cold concrete wall.
Markers, scissors, and duct tape in hand,
she commences the building,
visions of guard towers, dragons,
drawbridges, and queens
parading around her imagination.
An hour or so passes
and Mom props open the basement door,
announcing, Dinner is served!
A quiet groan is heard from below the stairs
as the young girl sets down her materials,
promising herself to return to this later.
When did we stop returning?
When did we flee
from the creativity of our youth
and exchange cardboard castles for

open floor plans,

Or paper crowns
for paper diplomas?
Stress, sleeplessness,
over-booked calendars, and
never-ending deadlines
have no place in the life of a princess.
Remember?
Youre a princess. You have a castle.
Years pass...
and
the
ding-dong
of the doorbell
trumpets the arrival of a package:
a 5 by 3 box from IKEA!
Youre excited for your new table
but your daughter
runs to the front door
with wide eyes

for other reasons.