Chicken Pox, house calls
Vicks on chest, steam on walls
Cough syrup, low spirits
“Thumbelina, Thumbelina…”
On the radio.
Snow suits, zippered boots
Private schools with strict rules
Coloring books, numbered hooks
Playground, Monkey bars.
Children on the go.
Jump rope, Hopscotch
Sand castles in empty lots
Grape fights, night lights
Making angels in the snow.
Marbles, marbles, large and small
Yo yos, Tops; I like them all
Red light, green light, stop or go
Mother may I? Yes or no?
Church bells, choir sings
Bonfires, bee stings
Climbing trees, raking leaves
Growing up is not so slow.
Sharon Palmeri
From the Edge of the Prairie 2009
Copyright Library of Congress 2001
**The above printed material is copyrighted, is registered with the Library of Congress and is the property of Sharon Palmeri. Permission is needed before use. Thank you! *S* **
