Child's Song

A child falls
then bleeds,
stumbles and bleeds.

She bleeds and bleeds.

What do we do

when we fall?

"Get back up, Papa!"

A thousand cuts
will follow her
into adulthood.

A child farts

then laughs,
belches and laughs.

She laughs and laughs.

Where do you 

feel it?

"In my belly, Papa!"

She laughs

until

I'm laughing too.

A child mourns

then cries,

questions and cries.

She cries and cries.

Why the ambulance, Papa?

"For the neighbor, Buddy."

Before the siren fades,

she's chasing butterflies

through the yard.

So play the song

that she may sing,

play it 

'til the fingers bleed.

Strike up the band.

She sings and sings.

"Play it again, Papa!"

A child's song
celebrates
the living thing.