Wednesday, May 7, 2014

The Petting Zoo Dilemma

a mocha hue of dung-y mud
daubs straw beneath his feet
beside pig pen

so fast, I have no chance to swoop him up
before he stomps right in it, then steps back out
minus left shoe

and hubs is with the older kids
spinning rides so high, cheap thrills
that burn deep holes in pants

money set aside and saved
for this big day each year,
South Texas Fair

a helper hoses off the sludge
while I try to hide my smile,
the moral learned without my words

hopefully


**

Prompt Inspiration:
Poetry Jam~ Festivals
PU Mid-Week Motif~ Children
3WW~ burn, hue, moral

32 comments:

Brian Miller said...

ha. we have been there...and done that...though i am not sure a helper was there to wash off...and did you hide the smile at the lesson....ha...love it when i have to say nothing....smiles.

Anonymous said...

Not being used to children, this immediately prepared my ears for the piercing scream of the one whose shoe got stuck... *smile* Chaotic affair, a festival with kids! Very well described (I could feel it)!

Sumana Roy said...

"the moral learned without my words"
and isn't that delightful to a mom?
:) love this piece..

Susan said...

Dilemma averted! Motherhood amazes me with its instant decisions and teaching moments. She didn't scream and she didn't laugh! That child will never be timid. And we get this marvelous Laurie poem.

Mary said...

I empathize. I have stepped on 'stuff' myself. Not a pleasant experience...and no helpers in evidence. Smiles.

Eileen T O'Neill ..... said...

Laurie,

Great memories captured in this adventure. It would stay and stick in memory as a talking subject, years afterwards!!!

Eileen

Sheilagh Lee said...

Delightful memories in this

Gabriella said...

'Minus left shoe'- the rest is left to our imagination. Your poem made me smile.

alan1704 said...

I can taste this, really vivid alive poem. Excellent.

alan1704 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sherry Blue Sky said...

Oh my, only last Sunday morning I was scraping dog poop off a toddler's shoe.....this poem made me smile!! Love it.

Unknown said...

The lessons of life; the lessons we learn also from children :)

Linda H. said...

sorry for laughing. This is so typical of kids who like to explore.
Did you happen to snap a picture to show him years from now?

Peggy said...

What a cute story! Loved reading this!

Old Egg said...

Children are great explorers and go where others fear to tread!

Belva Rae Staples said...

I guess some lessons require no words. Those are probably the best ones.

Wendy Bourke said...

Oh those childhood lessons – they do bring a smile of recollection. Children keep us humble, I think.

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

A vivid and tender recreation! Made me smile.

Anonymous said...

Well done, Laurie!

Anonymous said...

Sweet. A delightful read. :-)
-HA

Jae Rose said...

Yes..i was smiling too..sometimes you have to wade through a little of the brown stuff to find the good things in life!

ScottlB said...

A smile made here, been there and you think what can you say in that moment.

Walt Wojtanik said...

We hope they learn, anyway Laurie. What a wonderful vignette, beautifully written.

Buddah Moskowitz said...

Happy Mother's Day Laurie. This is the poem of a true mom.

humbird said...

Haha...made me smile :)

kaykuala said...

Moral learnt! It's one of those things when growing up! Great write Laurie!

Hank

Scarlet said...

That is quite a dilemma but hopefully everyone had fun nevertheless ~ Hope you are well Laurie ~

Karen said...

Mothers can (and do) truly do it all!

Arathi Harihar said...

Texas Fairs..I am a huge fan of them and I too learnt a lesson in one of those fairs..beautiful Laurie:)

Steve King said...

A great story...I'm just glad there was a helper. Sometimes lessons learned the hard way stay with us a while. Happy Mother's Day, Laurie.
Steve K.

Preeti S. said...

Beautifully penned. :)

Intelliblog said...

Ouch! I as a child have gone through the same experience, but in a real farm. I couldn't help but smile... Well written, Laurie.