SCHEMING LITTLE CHILD

Big piles of leaves stacked neatly in the yard
Sorted according to size and shape
Looking satisfied with the past 3 hours of work
the wrinkled old man smiles gingerly
wobble slowly inside to gather trash bags
for the stuffing of the leaves, the final step.

Children across the street
almost bursting with anticipation
scheming for this brief moment
run screaming across the street
and like little raindrops on the pond
explode the towering stacks of leaves
then with unprecedented glee
precede to scatter the leaves
spring time fountains of water

The old man slowly returns to find
the festivities happening in his yard
suddenly full of frozen lawn ornaments
but then a smile creeps on the weathered face
no longer is he an elderly 85
but an energetic eight
as he rolls in the leaves
and laughs and plays with the carefree children

Finally he no longer cares
cares what his neighbors may think
caring only about himself, at this moment
and having the most fun he has had
since he was a scheming little child.

Copyright Ben Neumann 2002
My son...reminding us to see the child within us all!