Feb. 20–26 ❘ It’s Hard to Be Little
It’s Hard to Be Little
When my math homework makes me angry,
Dad says, “Ask for help when you need it.”
Then he sits down to figure the problems with me,
sometimes Googles the answers.
But when I wanted to push the trampoline
up to the house so I could fly
off the roof, he said “NO.” Really loud.
When everyone’s in the car waiting
but I can’t find my shoes,
Mom says, “Open your eyes and look.”
She points to patent leather toes poking out
from under my bed. She sees everything.
But when I wanted to peek at my Christmas presents,
I searched from guestroom closet
to basement cold storage with no luck.
Mom wouldn’t give me even a little hint.
Both of them say it’s not polite
to run into the neighbor’s house without knocking
even if I need to use the bathroom
and I can’t make it home in time.
So I always knock. Now.
I’m still nervous about when to ask
and when to think about it some more,
when to look harder and when to sit tight.
I only sometimes guess what they want—
but somehow they always know what I need.
Maybe that’s what makes them
the boss of me.
To read more of my poetry, visit www.facebook.com/latterdaysaintpoetry. For questions, comments, or concerns, contact me at merrijane.rice@gmail.com.
Download a copy of the sheet music for “Ask, Seek, Knock” at SoundBooth Studios. For more music by Jennette Booth, visit www.facebook.com/soundboothmusic.
Order a copy of Messages on the Water at Amazon.
