Playtime (For Shane and Hayden)

*Poetry for my younger siblings

Playtime (For Shane and Hayden)

I steal away to the days

That we would run

Stay out and let the sun

Hug us until our skin turned

Golden and our faces

Beamed bright

From her light

And hold it in our bellies

In laughter

Transforming the green of

Grandma’s garden

Into jungles and forests

Beaches, space, and

Wherever place

We wanted to be

I miss make believing

Until we were really believing

That we were on a mission,

And I took pleasure

In searching for hidden treasure

I wish we could play that way forever

When we could transform

Into mad scientists

Making flubber and goo

And also when you

Would take all the left over liquids

At our table and mix up an elixir
and be proud

Even though your mom would say

That’s not allowed

I love your dirty faces

From rolling around

Digging deep into the ground

And how when you would fall

You would just get back up

Like nothing happened at all

Too busy in play

To let a little scrape take away

From your joy

And Manang Joy

Would get your hands

Sticky with sweets

And she would let you

Climb up on a seat

To help her mix up

All the wet things and then all the dry

And watch them through

The oven window rise

Cupcakes and cookies

Frosted and sprinkled goodies

Chocolate for Shaney

And vanilla for Haydie

But now I see you growing

Past my height and

Your maturity starts showing

In your voice

And your face

And we moved on to playing

Video games

Which is okay

Because I love playing too

And the best part

Is its still playing with you

So we stay with the Wii and PS3

Until our eyes tire

Or our play has expired

Because its time for bed

Because your mom said

I still miss running with you

And tumbling to the floor

But all of your energy isn’t

Just for playtime anymore

You have soccer practice,

And karate and baseball

And your limbs grow longer

And you’re getting so tall
And I fear the day when you
Won't need me at all

But no matter what

I hope you always know

That you are my little brothers

And I will always have the time

Or make the time

To share with you in play

Whatever way

You grow to know it

But I will always hold most to

The days we would run

Stay out and let the sun

Hug us until our skin turned

Golden and our faces

Beamed bright

From her light

And hold it in our bellies

In laughter

I’ll keep this with me today and

All our days together after