I was 3 once.

Peanut butter and celery.

It's morphing time!

Grass tasted like

Splenda (before I knew obesity epidemic.)

Liking someone was just wanting to be around them.

-

Honesty:

I don't like you,

She smells like eggs.

Mommy and Daddy don't like each other

Anymore.

They still live in the same house,

But the air is heavy.

-

Rebellion isn't v-neck t-shirts that

Smell like a car full of teenagers

at 1 AM. It isn't sad and

bloody bedroom sheets when the parents

aren't home. It's whining

Why Daddy, why

can't I?

-

Why does that man live on the street?

Why do his clothes fit in a shopping cart?

Pigeons scuttle,

Steam twists,

I don't understand.

When did we stop questioning?

I'll show you mine, you show me yours.

Just curious.

It's okay if you don't know everything.

-

So why does that man live on the street?

The obvious answer:

He does not have a home.

But why

Does that man live on the street? Why

him? Why

not me? Why

Can daddy come home with red lipstick collar and

A lipstick red corvette? Why?

Why?

Don't answer that.

Or Are we better?

Is that how it's supposed to be?

Is that right?

What is right?

Don't answer that;

Learn to avoid direct hits.

-

Simple:

Bad or good.

Wrong or right.

That's all 3 understands

Pure survival.

We can't keep them,

Snatches of bright green snagged in hair,

Stained ankles,

Forgotten puddles of cherry flavoring #47.

They are the future.

They'll be 5'8''

And they'll have pain and

Joy in one ascent.

Then they'll let themselves

feel the sweat of a hot pork roast

And say I was 3 once.

-

Regress! Regress!

Please,

Stay 3.

Keep watching an old man speaking monosyllabic,

Repeating,

Puppets.

Don't roll your eyes!

Yes, yes,

I know mommy is the woman you

love morer than anyone.

It's true dear,

Boys have cooties and

Syphilis is a Pretty

Princess who finds her Pretty Prince,

I promise,

If you'll promise to never

Get there.

To never have to glance at a circle

Of small people with your face and say

You know,

I was 3 once.