The Cloud Castle

Airavata's Poetry

"I will help you start," Airavata said. He reached out a trunk toward Will and grabbed him around the waist with it, then lifted him onto the clouds.
   But as soon as Will's feet hit the clouds, he began to sink through them. Airavata quickly brought him back down to the ledge.
   "It didn't work!" Will said, disappointed.
   "I'll try!" Colette offered
   Airavata picked her up with a trunk and set her down on the clouds. But even she couldn't manage to stand on them for more than a few seconds.
   "Why can't Will or Colette stand on the clouds?" I asked.
   "Only the light can walk on the clouds," Airavata replied.
   "But I'm in great shape!" Colette protested.
   "I am speaking of lightness of the heart and soul," the elephant explained. "You have pure hearts, so you should be able to do it. But something is holding you back." 
   "What can we do?" asked Paulina.
   "You must believe in your deepest wishes and your most secret dreams," Airavata said. "Only then will you be light enough to stand on the clouds."
   "But we do believe in our dreams," Violet said confidently. 
   "Maybe not always," the elephant said wisely. "It is normal to have doubts. But you must  believe that anything is possible, even when things look bleak. Only then will your heart be free to carry you above it all, to take you where dreams are born."
   "Those are beautiful words," I said.
   Airavata smiled. "Now, listen," he began, and then he recited a POEM. As he spoke, his words were spelled out in silver threads in the clouds overhead. 
   "That is wonderful poem," Colette said.
   "Repeat it to yourself when you land on the clouds," Airavata said. "It will make you feel free and light, so you won't sinl."
   We read the poem written overhead, trying to remember the words. Then, one by one, Airavata lifted us onto the clouds.
                                                                   
                                                                                Your journey starts
                                                                                 on solid ground.
                                                                                 First take a leap.
                                                                             You're skyward bound!
                                                                              
                                                                             Your dreams await you
                                                                                     high in the sky.
                                                                             If you have a pure heart,
                                                                                  then you shall fly.

                                                                                  Spread your wings.
                                                                          Let your heart lead the way.
                                                                                Forget your troubles.
                                                                             Shine your love like a ray.

                                                                           When you tread the clouds,
                                                                            keep your steps light as air.
                                                                                      Stay on the path.
                                                                         Keep your mind free from care.

I repeated the poem in my mind, and I think everyone else did, too. This time, we didn't sink!
   We all looked at our feet, squeakless. We were standing on a soft, wispy layer of clouds!
   "We're walking on clouds!" exclaimed a surprised Paulina.
   "Thank you!" we all told the elephant. 
   He responded with a POWERFUL TRUMPETING. We waved good-bye,  and then began to climb the cloud pathway he had created  for us.