scouring the sidewalk for a lost
lego sleepy dart injector smaller than a pinkie nail
lego sleepy dart injector smaller than a pinkie nail
with disaster looming large on the horizon
your wheels are spinning
trying to secure a deal that would make any bad feeling disappear
like the coin in the magic trick your uncle taught you
if we can’t find the sleepy dart can we go to target and get me a new toy right now?
kneeling on the concrete trying to see
what this bogeyman of disappointment might look like
and if we can look him in the eye
maybe he’d gallop away,
or, like I’ve long feared,
only grow larger
more pestilent
your wheels are spinning
trying to secure a deal that would make any bad feeling disappear
like the coin in the magic trick your uncle taught you
if we can’t find the sleepy dart can we go to target and get me a new toy right now?
kneeling on the concrete trying to see
what this bogeyman of disappointment might look like
and if we can look him in the eye
maybe he’d gallop away,
or, like I’ve long feared,
only grow larger
more pestilent
with the rays of my attention shining on him
the knot of you wanting any shred of sadness cleared out
and in your eyes I'm the one for the job
my breath searching down for tree roots
to be the living thing that says
it's so disappointing that we can't find the sleepy dart
like the books and blogs and podcasts say to
when i say it like a flag pole -
stagnant, heartless
you get enraged
when i tell you of the special toys i lost
(needing to make them up, since they're lost to memory)
your muscles soften
the bogeyman takes a seat on the bench with us
and in the dusk light
i spot the bright yellow sleepy dart on the mat on the porch
such a beautiful expression of co-being with kids <3
ReplyDeletethis "I'm the one for the job," you have to go (emotionally, physically, spiritually) where your kid takes you, no matter how you feel about the particularities of any yellow sleepy dart
ReplyDeletelike a flag pole <3 this is so good <3 <3
ReplyDelete"with the rays of my attention"
ReplyDeleteI've had to circle round for a hat and also an orange mitten, neither of which Rowan is particularly attached to, so am sort of dreading when he drops something he loves. Thanks for this!!
ReplyDeletemuscles soften and the bogeyman taking a seat on the bench had me :')
ReplyDelete