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In preparing to move into a household containing two children, the poet learned that they had been subject to unfriendly behaviors from that home’s previous room renter, and wrote this to reassure them.

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Recorded Reading (1:55): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0dvkechccf0ffbuffozs8/For-the-Short-People.m4a?rlkey=r7gqxxtfiog4vruitva6wnb1e&dl=0

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For the Short People

I’ve heard that you are wonderful
Look forward to our meeting
I hope I make a good impression
When each other greeting

I know that I am kind of old
And also kind of tall
I’m hoping we won’t let a little
Height stop us at all

From getting to know each other
In the way that new friends should
The way, if I were not so dumb,
I’m pretty sure I would!

But I will prob’ly mess it up
You know how it goes —
You clean and clean, behind your ears
Back of your neck and up your nose

You get dressed in your bestest clothes
Remember not to scratch or stare
And in the end it doesn’t get you
Very much of anywhere

Although you try your best to be
Your very best behavior on
Sometimes that turns out be
Much easier said than done!

I think I know, I understand
Even adult, I can relate
Things can just get out of hand:
The urge to wriggle gets too great!

So when we meet, I am afraid
That it will probably
Go the very same way with
Even well-intending me

I’ll need you two to understand
And with me have some patience
Just poke me with your little hand
If I don’t understand relations

Take me sort of to one side
Tell it to me quietly
What it is instead
That I should really doing be

Like, if I should sit over there
Instead of over here
That’s the kind of information
I like best to hear

Or maybe not stand on my head
Right before you go to bed
Because it makes your stomach queasy
Then I know sleeping isn’t easy

I don’t like to see people
Around me feeling crappy
Instead I like to make the people
I know happy!

I’ll do my best to get it right
And keep my best behavior to
When I get to have the delight
Of meeting both of you!

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This poet is physically disabled.

Public housing being insufficient to her medical and creative needs, in order to continue working she is presently living in her minivan, publishing all of her works using one thumb on the touch screen of her smartphone and surviving at a fraction of her nation’s poverty level.

If her work has touched you, she would treasure any contribution you might be good enough to offer ~ http://www.UgiftABLE.com ● #72D-31S.

Please be aware that it takes several days for her to be notified of patronage. Thank you for caring.

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