I never thought I would enjoy
The loud, obnoxious sound of toys,
Of crying in the midst of night
And watching darkness turn to light,
Of changing diapers and wiping spills
Of doctors visits and doctor’s bills.
I never thought I’d walk this path
Of rubber duckies in baby baths,
Of lullabies and rocking chairs
And beanie babies and teddy bears.
I love his innocence when he sleeps
And how he startles at the slightest peep.
I love his attempts at saying words
And his absolute wonder at seeing birds.
I love the cute things I can dress him in
And how quickly they end up in the laundry bin.
I love how he likes to take my hand
To lead me around like he’s king of the land.
I love how he waves at passers-by
And keeps waving in hopes of some reply.
But most of all, with this life I chose,
I love the Cheerios between my toes.
It’s as I walk across the floor
I hear a CRUNCH!.. as I’ve heard before.
I roll my eyes and shake my head
Clean up the crumbs
And on I tread.
CRUNCH! CRUNCH! Oh, there’s one more
Dropped by Matthew, whom I adore.
Yet how could I mind?
It won’t last forever,
Each of these things
Are here to treasure.
For there’ll come a day; I have a hunch
When I will yearn
For that tiny crunch
And look some days
Between my toes,
And wish
I still found…
CHEERIOS.
Written 03/05/2000