A Child's Mind Poem by Jim Yerman

Having worked in schools and now in a bookstore many children have come my way…and whenever I see a child I see innocence on display.

I love the way a child's mind works….there's no pretense…no deception…
I love their openness…their candor…love the innocence of their perception.

Recently I was again reminded of that innocence when a mother and daughter I had the pleasure to meet…they were in the bookstore when the mother noticed her daughter's shoes were placed on her wrong feet.

When she mentioned this to her daughter…her daughter bent down and placed her hands upon her calves…"Don't be silly Mommy, " she said, "these are the only feet I have."

Her mother and I smiled at each other…knowing children see things differently…as they struggle to make sense out of the world they hear and see.

I wonder if a child's mind…(of course this is just a guess) …
isn't created to absorb love, and acceptance…and cultivate tenderness.

I picture a child's mind as vast…
and open…
and wherever it originates from…
the more love and acceptance that's put into it…
the more open and tender it becomes.

As I watched her mother help her change her shoes…
and, thankfully, not her feet…
I secretly hoped this child's mind throughout her life
would remain open
and
innocent
and sweet.