The Sunday Poem: The Road to Whimsy
We’re half the way to Whimsy. Our feet are getting sore.
Half the way to Whimsy, where we plan to open doors.
Butterflies the size of bats hover ’round our heads
And bicycles on bouncy roads have sparkles on their treads.
Half the way to Whimsy is only partly droll
But at least we’re finding it a pleasant little stroll.
Ahead a man is hawking; his bird gives us a glare.
When walking down to Whimsy it doesn’t do to stare.
And at the gates of Whimsy we stop and take a gander.
The gates are icon-clad and people crowd the landing.
Inside the gates of Whimsy you’re not allowed to eat.
If you spill the beans, you see, they may not let you leave.
And photographs? Heavens forfend! That isn’t why you came!
The denizens are not the sort to fit inside a frame.
If I described — the robots, lights, the watercolored gears,
The shelves of books, daguerrotypes, boxes full of tears,
The flock of sparrows, spider’s web, the flavor of ice cream —
Oh, never mind. Just pretend you’re visiting a dream.
And when you’re leaving Whimsy, remember: no one stays.
Mostfolks visit briefly, and rarely in their days.
Pack a wistful smile for lunch, and wear your smallest clothes.
You can ride the cat bus home, to rest your tired toes.
9 Responses to “The Sunday Poem: The Road to Whimsy”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Raph’s Website » The Sunday Poem: The Road to Whimsy
ジブリ美術館に見学にも行って、いろいろと感銘を受けたようです。ただ、子供しか「猫バス」に乗れないのが残念だったみたい。 Alpha Applications are Closed
I was at the Ghibli Museum a few weeks ago. I think the poem captures it nicely. :>
It’s perfect!!!!
I didn’t even call out that most everything there is actually based on our experience. 🙂
We did open doors. There were these little doors in one exhibit, and inside one there was a perfect miniature version of the Studio Ghibli working area.
We did see a butterfly that size. Or moth. Or bat. I am unsure now.
The side roads had green bicycles lanes. And yes, they were bouncy — they felt like the surfacing in playgrounds.
We did see a man with a hawk on his arm. I didn’t snap his picture though.
It is true you cannot eat inside the museum. However, the Three Bears exhibit had a giant table where kids were spilling beans from giant bowls with great abandon. Diligent Japanese parents were sweeping them all back up and putting them back in the bowl.
No photos either. But most of the stuff on the walls was unframed — it was just watercolors and pencils, literally tacked up with thumbtacks.
Robots, of course. Especially the one from Castle in the Sky that is on the roof. But also many stroboscope-based exhibits of stop-motion animation, vintage stuff from the Victorians, and so on. The flock of sparrows was one such exhibit, with flickering lights making the birds fly around the robot. The spider’s web was on the walk there — a truly enormous garden spider.
Doug had brought these amazing grapes. I literally never tasted a better grape in my life. But I sustituted ice cream for the flavor.
Only really little kids are allowed on the cat bus. 🙁
Hmm… so Swiss strawberries and Japanese grapes? I’m kind of appalled by the thumbtacks. Sounds like you had fun! I bet the kids are too big for the cat bus now. =(
I love the no photo rule. It is great to be able to explore without feeling the pressure to record.
My favorite is the kid-sized spaces – you miss half the museum if you keep above 5 feed.
There is a cafe on site – I recommend the capuccino, they draw a totoro in the foam – very cute!
Very nice. I really like this one.
Ah! I liked it very much, almost like being there….
Raph, I do hope you will write more about that visit.