Capture the Wild

 I see the innocence flow through my child,
Watching him savor and capture the wild.
Laughing and playing, he pretends to be big,
Standing on a chair and trying on a wig.

He smiles about the littlest things,
Butterflies, marshmallows, sweet candy rings.
He jumps up and down and spins 'til he drops,
Whenever he feasts on sweet sugar pops.

Having such fun, tho he's just 'little bitty',
He chases the dog, frightens the kitty.
Running outside to play a child’s game,
Bad guys to catch and lions to tame.

There will be cuts, and a scrape or two,
Its part of learning, his limits are few.
Smiling, making faces and playing in sand,
The life of a child, how exciting and grand!

All the wonder in a child's mind.
So much to do and way more to find.
He takes in life at a furious pace.
He's learning faster than cars in a race.

He pretends to be whatever he can.
He will have to choose one when he is a man.
But not right now, too much fun to be had.
Must cook with his mom or wrestle with Dad.

Grandpa, what has your experience taught?
Tell me I don't try for naught.
How do I inspire and nurture his dreams?
Teaching him caution when he wants the extremes.

Encourage him when he wants to know,
Put down your work, for it’s him you must show.
Forget the adult, that's just not the style.
Join him, you both shall capture the wild!

Copyright 1999
DovePoetess and o. dell