"My Son" and "My Daughter"

“My Daughter”

I shall step very carefully

I will not make a sound

My feet will only touch

The stepping stones upon the ground

Special Consideration

Is given every engagement

Calculations and strategies pondered

As I maximize every investment

My favorites are the faeries

Which dance within my books

Even my fairy dolly

Which my little brother just took

I like to wrestle with my Dad

And help my mommy

I love an ice cream sundae

And goodnight rubs on my tummy

I will be a doctor

And an artist too

And with my spare time on the weekends

I will volunteer at the zoo

But first I must get

The whole world in proper order

Of course that is only if

I can keep from falling over

(2003)

“My Son”

I will not stop

Of this I will not think

Do not get in my way

I am actually a tank

A tank that jumps

A tank that even swims

A tank that breaks things

From beginning to the end

And while I am very strong

So is my independence

And while my emotions run deep and long

My heart is so sensitive

The only thing to temper

My compulsiveness

Is the ever changing currents

Of 180 degree sporadic-ness

Currently I NEED, my car

I mean, a train, a rock, a stick

Or is it an otter pop

Or balloon, or block, or brick

This day was very long, and

To bed I must spill

So I can wake early in the morning

And begin to force my will

(2003)