Stressed

It's Poetry Friday!  

I got a text from my daughter this morning.

Her 4 year old son asked to wear these shoes today.  He's usually in flipflops or Crocs, but today he asked to wear his "stress shoes".  And he named them:  Bobo and Bernie. 

Then he proceeded to "Time Out" when he couldn't wear them to go outside and do yard work.  There was a bit of a rough patch preceeding the "Time Out"... but we've all seen those, so I needn't describe the exchange that would lead to a need to calm down, right?  Speaking of "stress shoes"...

It was handy timing because I didn't know what I would write about.  I had no poem, until then.  Thanks, Grandson!  

Maybe next week I'll include his hand conversation at breakfast.

"Come on, you stress shoes!"

Stress Shoes

I want to wear my stress shoes

They're black and have real laces

I think I'll call them Bobo

And Bernie - with no faces.

Still they each have tongues,

Even though they do not smile;

And mom says I can wear them

For just a little while.

I cannot do real stress in them;

No working in the yard,

Even though I promised

Not to make them work too hard.

She says that they are dress shoes

But that just can't be so

I think I'd know it if they were

They'd need to have a bow.

Wait, Mom tied my laces in a - Oh, no!

Aren't dress shoes just for dresses?

Should I name them Brynne and Brenda?

Now I really know what stress is!

I wish I had real stress shoes

To work and kick about

Then I would be outside instead

Of waiting in Time Out.

by Nannie, ©Donna JT Smith, 2015

I forgot!  I did have a poem to share... in case you missed it -
Michelle H. Barnes, on Today's Little Ditty, is posting a whole slew of ME poems sent in by brave souls - poems of a pivotal moment in your young life to share with the world!  My poem, "A Passing Remark", is posted there with many wonderful snippets of our younger lives!

A PASSING REMARK
by Donna JT Smith

 
I was a child
of field and truck
with fingernails
a’la dirt and mud

the neighbors had
a girlie girl
with skin so soft
and hair a’curl

pale of face
with body narrow
a shape that barely
made a shadow

rosy cheeks and
toned farm arms
should not have been
cause for alarm

but our neighbor’s visitor
said to me
as I passed by
“Hello, chubby!”
 

from that time on

I realized
it mattered if
you weren’t pint-sized;

and that is when
my fight began
with body image
and who I am.

Visit.  Read.  Laugh.  Cry.  Gasp.  Wince.  Giggle.

Then think about what YOU might write before September 30!

Read more poetry on this glorious Poetry Friday
hosted by Janet Wong at Poetry for Children

and clicking on the links to other participants!

Great fun is in store

for those who read more!