Happy to be
a child was me
when mom sang a song
while reading along
the wide open pages
splotched with color and wit
the story so silly
a cat who could knit?
Happy to be
a child was me
learning to read
at my mom’s knee
that cat wore a hat
Horton’s egg hatched
Christmas was snatched
by the Grinch in Santa’s hat.
Happy to be
a child still me
hearing the rhymes
the rhythm in time
said by my niece
her inflection so fine
read by my nephew
his tempo sublime.
Happy to be
a kid pliably
still learning to see
at my Papa’s knee.

Painting by Joel Tesch