February 1981

Next
whatever it was

Back

whatever it was
it was a minor set-back
but it almost made
the boy cry

               no
               not me!
               I’m a big boy
               I’m going to be a MAN!
               I am NOT going to cry

he stood tall –
head high
chest out
back straight

then she poked him

               no, Momma
               no!

you feel bad
don’t you?
you want to cry

               please … ! Momma!
               don’t!

you want to cry
don’t you?

she poked him again

               please, Momma!
               I got to LIVE!

another poke

you want to cry
don’t you?

               he broke down
               grabbed his momma
               and cried

               oh Momma
               not just the whole world
               but you too Momma
               you too

whatever it was
it was a minor set-back

almost




the way it is

Contents: Headings

Contents: Poems

Index by Titles

Index by First Lines

Chronology

Preface

Cover Page