There came a kind and simple man to AiryLand one day

He smiled and greeted everyone as he went along his way.

To most he wasn't special so as they'd look at him for sure,

While others just gave a simple glance as he stopped outside a door.

He raised his hand to lift the ring that knocked upon the door

But before he could, it opened just enough to see the floor.

It was red and it was blue and it was dark and it was light -

And he couldn't tell just where it was, focus as he might.

-----

He blinked a bit and looked again but no more could he see

Than just the floor of total colour, being as deep as any sea.

First glancing left and right, he pulled the door ajar

And stood off a little way because to him this was bizarre.

Having paused awhile, he approached again and stood before the door -

This time he pushed it wide so that he could see some more.

To his complete amazement and his complete dismay,

There was just a room now - the vision had gone away.

----

So he stepped inside and looked around, hoping for a clue

But the floor below was hard as rock and the sky was a normal blue.

He sat down on his haunches and rolled a cigarette

With strong-smelling tobacco then he licked the paper wet.

Having struck a match to light it, he cupped it in his hands

And that was when he knew that he was in AiryLand.

The flame became a whole new world and his hands became the sky

And the cigarette was a pathway along which little sparks did fly.

----

In there he saw his future - it was not behind the door

But in his very hands, so clear it was that he swore.

For there, in AiryLand, the playground of his mind,

With pure imagination many answers did he find.

He stayed there for some time did our kind and simple man,

As he set about creating his most desired plan.

And when he was finally happy that he'd set it up just right,

He returned to find the match still waiting for a cigarette to light.

----

He smiled and raised his eyes enough to gaze over his hands

To see that, beyond the door outside, now stretched dunes of desert sand.

Which made him smile again, gently shaking his head

As he cupped the little flame again and threw the cigarette away instead.

He stood up from his haunches and headed for the door -

Amused that he was walking on a nonexistent floor.

As he reached the door-like threshold, he opened up his hands,

Throwing up the flame to land upon the sands.

And as it did, the dunes heaved and the landscape slowly changed -

There were trees and birds and valleys and a towering mountain range.

----

So he walked on through the gateway (first foot on new land)

And as he did, he was amazed to see the flame back in his hand.

It didn't burn nor did it smoke nor did it set anything alight.

It was there to guide him and be his inner sight.

As he walked through his creation and saw what he had done,

He realised just how easy it was for everyone.

His world was his alone to make - exactly as he planned.

All it took was to believe that, someday, he would find AiryLand.

SJ

Click below for AiryLand Part 2: