A Barefoot Boy By James Whitcomb Riley A barefoot boy! I mark him at his play— For May is here once more, and so is he,— His dusty trousers, rolled half to the knee, And his bare ankles grimy, too, as they: Cross-hatchings of the nettle, in array Of feverish stripes, hint vividly to me […]
Waterwings By Cathy Song The mornings are his, blue and white like the tablecloth at breakfast. He’s happy in the house, a sweep of the spoon brings the birds under his chair. He sings and the dishes disappear. Or holding a crayon like a candle, he draws a circle. It is his hundredth dragonfly. Calling […]
Only a Dad By Edgar Albert Guest Only a dad with a tired face, Coming home from the daily race, Bringing little of gold or fame To show how well he has played the game; But glad in his heart that his own rejoice To see him come and to hear his voice. Only a […]
Late at Night in Bed By Gregory Djanikian My wife tells me she hears a beetle Scurrying across the kitchen floor. She says our daughter is dreaming Too loudly, just listen, her eyelids Are fluttering like butterflies. What about the thunder, I say, What about the dispatches from the police car Parked outside, or me […]
On My First Sonne By Ben Jonson Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy; My sinne was too much hope of thee, lov’d boy Seven yeeres tho’wert lent to me, and I thee pay, Exacted by thy fate, on the just day. O, could I loose all father, now. For why Will man […]
Just for This Day By Sally Meyer … Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles. … Read more →
Deep in Our Refrigerator By Jack Prelutsky Deep in our refrigerator, there’s a special place for food that’s been around awhile… we keep it, just in case. ‘It’s probably too old to eat,’ my mother likes to say. ‘But I don’t think it’s old enough for me to throw away.’ It stays there for a […]
He wades out to join the father, / Following where the good strikes / Seem to lead.
Parents By William Meredith What it must be like to be an angel or a squirrel, we can imagine sooner. The last time we go to bed good, they are there, lying about darkness. They dandle us once too often, these friends who become our enemies. Suddenly one day, their juniors are as old as […]
Your baby grows a tooth, then two, / and four, and five, then she wants some meat / directly from the bone.