Children are a gift from the Lord.

The poetry book continues.

JUDAH AND THE CHEERIOS
“Cheerios. They taste so good.
I’ll put them in my mouth.
And such a pretty box they’re in.”
So now, the box goes south.
And all the little Cheerios,
Which graced the rug they sat on
No longer round and whole,
They grace the rug they’re ground in.
(2005)

A DOLL FOR DARLA
Five dollars and 100 one-ounce Mr. Peanut bags
for a Mr. Peanut doll,
a cloth peanut with arms and legs
and just enough polyester
to make him little more than a pancake.
Black stove pipe hat perched on his head,
monacle over one eye,
the image of Mr. Peanut
just not as handsome—
a gift for eighteen month old Darla.
A toddler’s sparkling eyes, a quick hug,
and off to play with her new toy.

Bedtime, end of ride.
The most beautiful doll in the world
rests in the arms of his mama—
a deal for 100 one-ounce Mr. Peanut bags
and five dollars.
(2005)