Maisie’s Mom Says

Words from Maisie Jean.
“Mama I don’t wanna do spelling
and why does the cat lick to clean?”

The music of her voice makes me want to sing.
“Finish your homework so we can snuggle love.”
“Mama I don’t wanna do spelling.”

If there are angels here or above,
they aren’t as cool as Ms. Maisie.
“Finish your homework so we can snuggle love.”

“Mom one piece of chocolate won’t make me crazy.”
Her sweet smile is hard to resist.
They aren’t as cool as Ms. Maisie.

Chasing the cat, teasing him with a string tied to her wrist.
How did I deserve such a great kid?
Her sweet smile is hard to resist.

“Momma I love you more than I ever did!”
Words from Maisie Jean.
How did I deserve such a great kid,
and why does the cat lick to clean?

If I Were the Autumn Leaves

If I were the autumn leaves
I would be colorful and tinged.
Reds, yellows, and oranges,
falling and tangling
in Maisie’s hair as she
skips down the lane,
followed by mama.

It is a fall day in Cheltenham.
Maisie Jean and mom
are on a walk to grandma’s.
A little girl’s voice sings,
“Wake Me Up When September Ends.”
“Mama what day is this?”
“November 12th”
“Was I awake when September ended?”

If I were the autumn leaves
I would clap and dance
at the chance to be
tangled in hair and serenaded
by a sweet child
who listens to the same song I do
from thousands of miles away.

House of Cards

“Mommy what is the one with the A on it again?”
“It is an Ace. Having a Daughter like you is ace.”
52 cards in a deck to build a house.
Maisie Jean is making a mansion.

“It is an Ace. Having a Daughter like you is ace.”
Maisie’s hands and imagination slowly, gently stack cards.
Nine feet high and 14 feet wide, numbered faces out.
Building the biggest card house in all England.

52 cards in a deck to build a house.
Ace through King arranged in suits; red and black,
hearts, diamonds, clovers, and spades
arranged into a country place for Maisie and mom.

Maisie Jean is making a mansion
for her and mom to hide in and snuggle,
a day off from school and work to be remembered
within these card-stock walls forever.

Fish Bowl

I am not a guppy
goldfish, molly, or fighting fish.
I was born in a shop
on South Broadway
which also has
dog collars, scratch posts,
and bird food.

I am not
a Sri Lanka Ghost,
on display
for kids
to watch and supply with
bits of food,
only to find
I am boring
and don’t do tricks.

In my fishbowl
I float, looking
out at your
world,
so dry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am snug
and smug
and soon
I will
grow out of
my tail,
and hop
past
a rim of glass,
out a window,
and on into
a pond
to sing
all night.

I am not a guppy,
goldfish, molly, or fighting fish,
I am a frog
if you didn’t know!

Bendy Gold Man

Mr. Bendy Gold Man
comes from a far-off land.
He is two inches tall
you can barely see him at all.

Mr. Bendy is a quarter-inch wide,
very easy to hide.
One day the kitty bit him
when he napped in Maisie’s mitten.

Mr. Bendy Man kept getting lost
one day in the trash can he was tossed.
Maisie was afraid he wouldn’t long linger
now he rides wrapped around her little finger.