“Thank you my life long afternoon…” From Variation on a Theme by W.S. Merwin

“Forgive me. I simply do not know what I am doing.” From Variations on a Theme by William Carlos Williams by Kenneth Koch

Summer’s great, right? Ah, summer. How’s yours going–are you relaxing, enjoying the little ones?

Let me tell you how my summer is going.

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“Mom, what’s my other teacher’s name at camp?”

“I don’t recall…”

“What color day is it tomorrow?”

“I have to look.”

“Do I have swimming today?”

“Um, I think so…”

“Is it pizza today?”

“Yeah, I think…” 

“What’s our field trip tomorrow? The library?”

“Oh, maybe…” I am not sure what any of your teachers names at camp are. What’s color day? I don’t read the e-mails they send at the end of every camp day. Did I know there was a pool? I’m glad they’re feeding you. Wow, field trips, huh? We drop you off. We pick you up. It’s camp. 

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“MommyMommymommymommymommymommymommymommymommymommymommymommymommymommymommymommymommymommymommyMOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYY!”

“MOMMY!”

“OH MY GOD! WHAT?!”

“I finished my water.”

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“Mrs. Bradford, this is the doctor’s office. We wanted to let you know that you missed your appointment today…”

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“Mrs. Bradford, this is the dentist’s office. We wanted to let you know that you missed your appointment today…”

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“Mrs. Bradford, this is the pediatrician’s office…”

“She moved.”

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“Mommy, I need to show you something.”

“In a minute.”

“No, now! I need to show you something NOW. COME HERE!”

“In a minute!”

“COME HERE MOMMY! I need to show you something here! IN HERE! COME HERE!”

“I said in a minute! I AM IN THE BATHROOM!”

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“Mommy, this needs to be cleaned up right now.”

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“Mommy, I will always listen to you. So you don’t scream at me.”

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“I don’t want that chicken. There’s a bug on it.”

“Actually, I want that chicken.”

“NO DON’T PUT IT THEEEERRREEEE!”

“You said you wanted the chicken!”

“But NOT THERE!”

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“Mommy, get OUT! I need privacy in the bathroom!”

“Come wipe my butt!”

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“Mommy, you have wrinkles.”

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“Mommy, you know what?”

“Mommy?”

“Go to sleep now. No talking.”

“But mommy…”

“Enough talking tonight. Go to sleep.”

“Mommy?”

Sigh. “What is it?”

“I love you everything in the world.”