Photo by Phil Hearing
REACH FOR THE CHILD
When you were a child
you were a bold creator
painting life in multi hues,
coming up with greens and blues
that bubbled from inside of you,
but as you aged
you settled for scripted words
typed in black printed on white
written by someone else.
When you were a child
you puddle jumped
from place to place,
hopped and skipped
through made up space,
but as you aged
you took a seat,
sat still and stared
at mesmerizing screens.
It’s never too late
to look for the paintbrush
stashed inside your overalls
and find the galoshes
hidden inside your closet.
It’s never too late
to reach for the child
who splashed around in color
and danced ’til the cows came in.
Listen to that voice of old
and sing the stifled song
rumbling in your soul.
From the Contest Winning Chapbook "Cracked Open" to be published in 2023.
The Author
Alice Smith lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband Alfred and their dog Leroy. Together they have four children and four grandchildren. Alice is an introvert who has found her voice through poetic expression. She is the author of five collections of poetry, including That Little Girl.
Alice Smith, Chattanooga, TN