Draft in the author’s style. This poem was written for Poet in Wonderland to sit beside the author’s own readings, and is waiting for the author’s review. The commentary is a working draft too.
In the middle of the village square, there is a well of stone,
Where the wishes of a hundred years are hidden and unknown.
The coins that fall into it turn to stars beneath the deep,
And they twinkle up at midnight like a million dreams asleep.
A baker wished for flour, and it rained on his stone floor,
A blacksmith wished for strength, and he lifted more and more.
A widow wished for company, and the wind became a song,
That she heard beside her fireside, all the evening long.
But a boy who had no coin to give leaned over, and he sighed,
And he whispered, I would like a friend, and the well replied.
A tiny voice behind him said, hello, I'm new in town,
And the two of them were friends before the sun went down.
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Commentary
A wishing well grants each visitor exactly the wish they need. The poem lists a few of them and saves the sweetest for a boy who could not pay.
In the village square “there is a well of stone, where the wishes of a hundred years are hidden.” “The coins that fall into it turn to stars beneath the deep.” “A baker wished for flour, and it rained on his stone floor,” and “a blacksmith wished for strength.” “A widow wished for company, and the wind became a song.”
“A boy who had no coin to give leaned over, and he sighed, and he whispered, I would like a friend, and the well replied.” “A tiny voice behind him said, hello, I’m new in town.” The two “were friends before the sun went down.”