Marcia Hanrahan

Why Did Mother Say That?

"Four wooden legs on the floor!"
All I was doing was tipping back the chair I was sitting in,
I though silently.
"Clean your plate!"
But I don't like this vegetable,
I thought silently.
"You're too young to go!"
When will I ever be old enough,
I thought silently.
"Don't interrupt, wait until I'm finished!"
But it's important and I don't like waiting
I thought silently.
When you are growing up, it seems there are always orders to follow.
But strangely, when you have your own children,
There are always orders to give.
"Four wooden legs ...