Poems

When I Have A Little Boy

When I have a little boy,
and he starts kindergarten
I will tell him to have a great day.
When he comes home,
I will remind him to always hold onto the feeling
he felt when he ran around the playground.
When he starts third grade,
I will tell him it's alright to cry.
And when he comes home,
I will ask if there are any nice boys or girls there
that he might like, in any way.
As friends, or as more.
From the beginning,
I will tell him he can love whoever he wants.
When he starts middle school,
I will tell him to smile at everyone he sees.
When he comes home,
I will emphasize that he doesn't have to play sports
if he wants to draw or sing.
And he should try hard at academics,
but does not have to get all A's.
And he should sit with the girl
huddled in the window seat reading a book,
not the one putting her arms around every boy.
When he starts high school,
I will tell him to love himself.
When he comes home,
I will ask if he saw any beautiful girls
with sad looks in their bloodshot eyes
or long sleeves or untouched lunches.
And if he says no,
I'll tell him to look closer.
And when he says yes,
I'll tell him to get to know her
and bring her home
and I'll make myself busy
as long as he kisses her and says
she is perfect to him.