Once upon a time, in a house by the woods,
lived a boy named Leo, who wore yellow hoods.
He had a small dog with a tail like a spring,
and a bird in the garden who loved how to sing.
Leo found a map in a dusty old book,
at the back of the shelf in a quiet little nook.
It showed a big mountain and a river of blue,
and a "Secret of Gold" that nobody knew.
He packed up some apples and a bottle of juice,
and let his imagination run wild and loose.
He put on his boots and he grabbed his best stick,
the grass was quite tall and the bushes were thick.
The first thing he found was a stream in the way,
where the frogs like to leap and the dragonflies play.
He hopped on the stones with a "one, two, and three,"
as happy and brave as a young boy could be.
Then he entered the woods where the shadows are long,
where the wind in the branches hums a soft song.
The squirrels watched him pass from the tops of the trees,
while he sniffed the sweet scent of the pine on the breeze.
He saw a big rabbit with ears long and white,
who nibbled on clover with all of its might.
"Hello there, Mr. Bunny!" the little boy said,
but the rabbit just winked and then wiggled its head.
The path started climbing up high toward the sun,
Leo knew that the best part had only begun.
He reached a big cave that was dark and quite deep,
where he thought that a dragon might possibly sleep.
He tiptoed inside with his heart beating fast,
wondering if he'd find the treasure at last.
But there were no dragons with fire or scales,
just a family of foxes with very soft tails.
They looked at the boy with their big, shiny eyes,
Leo felt a great sense of wonderful surprise.
He shared his red apples and sat on the floor,
and realized he didn't need gold anymore.
The foxes showed Leo a hole in the wall,
that led to a meadow, the best place of all.
The "Secret of Gold" wasn't coins in a chest,
it was the light of the sun as it sank in the west.
The hills were all glowing in orange and red,
"It's time to go home now," the little boy said.
The stars started blinking like lights in the sky,
as the moon rose up high to say its "goodbye."
He walked through the garden and opened the door,
tired and happy, and ready for more.
His mother was waiting with cocoa and cake,
and a warm, cozy bed for a small heart to take.
He tucked in his dog and he pulled up the sheet,
feeling the grass still beneath his small feet.
He dreamed of the foxes and the mountain so blue,
knowing that legends and stories come true.
For the world is a playground for those who are small,
with wonders and magic behind every wall.
So sleep now, young hero, the day is all done,
tomorrow brings ventures and plenty of fun.
The map is still there in the dusty old book,
waiting for you to come give it a look.
With a stick and a hood and a heart full of light,
you can be an explorer, starting tonight