The Little Dark Man Rules Poem by Ernest Elliot Daka

The dark little man has an infectious wide smile
Even at one year, he has a way of melting me
I call his name and he utters a heee! and smiles
Who taught him that, I muse, hilariously!
But he reads my love for him and laughs
He is indeed a wonder we'll never know

As I look again, I see a little red skinned babe
He is small and fragile, wrapped up in cloth
He sucks his clinched fist, and with hunger
His eyes closed as he wriggles in my arms
He makes noises of protest for hunger
A wonder from God above and love for us

Yet now he crawls all over with speed
Sometimes he screams joyously as he goes
And he can hum his own pretty little tunes
While he drives an imaginary motor vehicle
A face brightened by beautiful girly eyes
Going to rooms in search of anything and mom

Surely God must have all the fun everywhere
Watching from up there his little artful work
Going from helpless little babe of beauty
Now a little dark man ruling all in laughter
When he looks at me and speaks gabble
Raising his little arms in funny gestures
Surely God must have laughter with us all

Armed with four pretty white frontal teeth
See him laugh as he walks gingerly, two steps
Now he stops to dance at music he loves
And all the audience laugh and clap
For the little pretty dark man is king
Like all babies, he's from the God of love

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