My Love
My love is a mirror
Just look and you’ll see
The silly of you
Is the smile on me.
My love is a Tiptoe
Through hide and seek
A giggle and tickle,
As you squirm and squeak.
My love is a whisking
Way up to the sky.
Or jiggly airplanes
On knees where you fly.
My love is a healing,
A bandage of graces
To wipe away owies
In all the hard places.
My love is a washcloth
Soaked up with sunrise
For stains and for spills
And for teary, red eyes.
But sometimes the scars
Do not have an end.
And that’s when, dear child,
My love is a friend.
And when you’re alone
I’m nowhere in sight
My love is a blanket
To wrap you up tight.
My love is a puddle
Where footsies can play
Where laughter is found
On the rainiest day.
And if there’s a time
That pulls us apart
The beating within
Is my love in your heart.
My love is a mirror
Just look and you’ll see
The beauty of you
Is the happy in me.
If I Were A...
If I were a rocket ship
I’d zoom up really high
Collect a million stars
Little nightlights in the sky
I’d hang them in my room
They would shine through every night
Keep me safe from danger
Keep away the fright
If I were a puppy dog
I’d tumble on the ground
And play ‘til I was breathless
And then I’d lay around
And all the muddy goodness
That’s left beneath my feet
Would never once be punished
Because I look so sweet
If I were a race car
I’d speed across the states
And I would be so fast
Mom would never say I’m late
Cuz nothing would be faster
In sky or land or sea
No need for an amusement park
Just race around with me
If I were a rainbow
I’d paint my colors bright
And I would shine for hours,
even through the night
And I would be a solid slide
Where kids could laugh and play
I would never be left out
They’d all want me to stay
If I were a chameleon
I’d sneak everywhere
Blending right in saying,
“Catch me if you dare”
And no one would find me
When we’d play hide and seek
Unless I’d give a little hint
And make the curtains speak
If I were a cat
I’d never be told “no”
Nose in the air and tail back straight
They’d know who runs the show
I’d choose the lap I want
And purr my magical purr
Every want within my grasp
Every hand to stroke my fur.
If I were a shooting star
And heaven paved my way
I’d fly with all the angels
And with me they would stay
I’d answer every wish
Granting dreams would be my plight
And kids would look up longingly
To watch me through the night.
The Best in Our Mess
Riley the rabbit was in art class with Mrs. Squirrel. She asked the students to paint a picture. Riley didn’t want to for fear that she might fail. With a little coaxing, she decided to fumble her way through it. But when she was done, all she saw were scribbles. Mrs. Squirrel hung the picture proudly and saw beauty in what appeared to Riley as only a mess. Her teacher knew these scribbles were the beginnings of masterpieces yet to come. Hope and a future for Riley were all she could see.
Mrs. Squirrel said,
Don’t be so quick to quit, and hear me when I say… it’s in the mess, our very best… begins to make its way.
As fall turned into winter, new pictures were painted and scribbles took shape. But Riley still wasn’t satisfied. However, she noticed something magical about simple things in her classmates’ work; a bright red heart or a yellow shining sun. And she thought maybe her simple things were ok too.
Mrs. Squirrel said,
I know you want to be the best right from the start… but simple things will often bring… the purest works of art.
In the springtime, shapes took on more forms. And as Riley was painting a picture of her home, she accidently knocked the pink paint onto the top of her paper. Oh, the tears began. But Mrs. Squirrel said, “I see the beginning of a beautiful sunrise, with pinks and oranges peeking through. Tears stopped and her eyes became wide and hopeful. She picked up her paintbrush. Colors flowed. It was her best picture yet.
Mrs. Squirrel said,
Don’t be so quick to quit, and hear me when I say… it’s in the mess, our very best… begins to make its way.