Dirty Little Hands

Someday I will be older,

And I’ll learn to tie my shoes.

And then who’s going to catch me

When I’m up and on the loose?

I’ll make a fort with boxes,

Where I can make my plans;

And I’ll tell it all in pictures

With my dirty little hands.

I’ll scamper out the backdoor

Before anybody knows,

And splash around in the puddles

Till I’ve muddied all my clothes.

I’ll power up the Big Wheel,

Cut donuts in the grass,

And we’ll rattle down the alley

Until twilight comes to pass.

When they come looking for me,

I’ll be hiding in the tree;

I can almost hear them laughing

When I say ‘it wasn’t me.’

Someday I will be older,

And I’ll know a little more.

And then who’s going to catch me,

When I leave and slam the door?

r. nuñez, 3/2012