The Lanyard. Thanks to Billy Collins.*

 



The summer camp brought special skill

A little time and strength of will

Just weaving plastic strands

Some red and blue bands

Into a wrist lanyard for my Mom.


She gave me life and milk and safety

Confidence as I mastered speech problems

 Books to read and to be read to

Comfort for when the bullies showed up

And blackened my eye. Called me names.

Balanced respect for Dad and other grown ups


And I gave her my lanyard

Three nights seated patiently

Criss crossing

As fireplace crackled…

Thinking that pretty much

Makes us even.


*This is my paraphrase.



Billy. Puckish at the podium.





Comments