Poem

One of these days you’ll explode
and shout to all the kids,
“Why don’t you just grow up
and act your age!”
And they will…

No more dandelion bouquets.
No more iron-on patches.
No more wet, knotted shoelaces, muddy boots
or rubber bands for ponytails.

No wet Oatmeal kisses,
No more tooth fairy,
No more giggles in the dark,
scraped knees to kiss
or sticky fingers to clean

Only a voice asking,
“Why don’t you grow up?”

And the silence echoes:
“I did”

-Erma Bombeck