When we are born
the adults in the room
think we are crying
Not so.
We are announcing our arrival.
Not knowing the language of this new place,
we yell fearlessly,
demanding,
ready to take our place in this world.
What crying?
We are speaking.
We are the teachers,
the ones who deliver the demands.
Feed me.
Change me.
Entertain me.
Flatter me.
And perhaps I will smile
in your direction.
How else would the adults
learn how who is actually in charge!
For a smile and some silence,
they will learn
size doesn’t always matter.
Relish these moments
controlling the adults in the room.

 

Janet Cormier is a painter, writes prose and poetry, and performs comedy. JC prefers different and original over pretty. She loves collecting stuff, but cleaning not so much. Janet also talks to strangers. A lot. Her column appears weekly on Oddball Magazine.