Questions Poem by Nicole Zimmer

Little man so grown up
Carefully parts his hair so it sweeps around perfectly
Adjusts the knot in his clip on tie
Polishes his new shoes with just a little too much minwax
The excess now a streak on the living room floor
He replicates the routine he saw his father do a hundred times
With a somberness that a child should not know
He beckons me to hurry
Mommy, please
I have to tell daddy goodbye
Is it ok if I cry?
I am a big boy now.
Will he still love me?
Why did daddy die?
Mommy, please hurry