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I ride in a yellow monster’s mouth
with gum under my feet
I carry books like an ant with a piece of fruit
I can write with any pencil
no matter how small a nub
I can tell you what’s a rhombus and what’s not
I understand what you mean
when you spell out D-E-N-T-I-S-T
I know when you’ve been crying and when you lie
I know what an active shooter is
but they won’t mess with me
I’m ten and I’m fierce and smart and fancy-free
Cook a poem slow,
but eat a poem fast
while you’re in the kitchen
simmer it long and low
until it’s ready
but when you’re at the table
don’t be picky, gulp it
down
Eat a poem fast,
Cook it slow
We are getting breakfast tomorrow,
said you had to tell me something
I said I’m always hungry
We are getting breakfast early
on our day off, like we used to do
haven’t seen you around much
we’ve both been busy
I thought about pancakes at first
when you came in and
wrote your name on my calendar
I thought about changing the
radio station in your car
But something in your face said
this might be our last breakfast
I shouldn’t be thinking so hard
about food
I shouldn’t be staring so hard
at this plate
I should’ve been listening
every breakfast before…
I’ll let you get the tab this time
Just once.
Honey I never knew
you were
this big of a fool-
you see,
it isn’t smart to let
somebody else
be in charge
of your livery
Honey I never knew
you were
this big of a fool-
you see,
it isn’t wise to let
your guard be down
around someone
like me
Honey I never knew
you were
this big of a fool
for me-
but now that I know
let’s give it a go-
all kinds of
tomfoolery.
Promise yourself you’ll only do
today’s work
Keep yourself to this
and you won’t have
no trouble sleeping
Keep yourself to this
and you will have
a life to spare
I’m taking a class
on writing;
about teaching children
to write well
The professor wants us
to get a little journal
and carry it around
to write little thoughts in
She says I have to be a writer myself
to show a child how to be one
so we’ll practice
and she’ll check it every week
to make sure I’m doing it
I just sit so quietly
during these times
I can’t get angry
like the first four classes-
I know now this is not
really meant for me
but oh the things
I sit so quietly through
because it’s just
what has to be done
Oh the well-meaning requirements
from all the bad apples
that spoiled the bunch
You shouldn’t read me
as often as you do;
though it’s written for me
it’s colored through you.
Eyes like a filter
to process what’s mine,
drunk on a very old secret.
You shouldn’t be reading
as often as you are;
keep it this fresh,
you’ll never heal that scar-
the story repeated
for a thousand days
but never enough to believe it.
Find someone else
to read at your leisure;
some other artist’s pain
to treasure –
I have too much left
to dig it all out
just because you need it.
