Sunday, February 16, 2014

Cute



i don’t want to be cute!
i hate being adorable!

when you want to
have muscles
and body hair
and drive a car

this is,
to a boy of six
with three older brothers—

a curse.

the curse of cuteness.

ok,
what do you
want to be?

with no hesitation,
all gumption and flash,
the reply: 

scary!

i laugh, and quickly try to stifle it—

because he really means it
and
because
i do

get what he’s saying—

he wants to be taken seriously
around here,

a mustachioed man/ninja/t-rex
to be reckoned with,

even if i do still help him
to put on his belt
and slick down the cowlick
on the back of his head.

i nod,
as somber and intent
as if i am making
a most grave and
solemn vow.

but
just between you and me—

he’s still so cute

it’s scary.




© 2014 Jennifer Wagner


shared at poets united poetry pantry

15 comments:

  1. perfect close, Jennifer! My teen boys... ~

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  2. ha. do appease him and be scared
    just a bit at least.
    it will go miles with him.
    smiles.

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  3. This one really tugs at the heartstrings. And a great choice to use italics on the conversation, which is integrated into the piece seamlessly. (Speaking personally, I have found popping between conversation and ponderings-of-the-mind very tricky.) You're done it well - and to great effect in this utterly charming poem. Love it, Jennifer!

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  4. Oh, and this post is so cute it's scary! So, so true. You were so smart not to laugh! But it is so hard not to. I remember statements like that and needing to take them seriously - because he does - all the while trying to keep the scene and words in my mind so I could tell my husband later, and we could laugh together later beyond his listening ears!

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  5. My niece is going through this phase now. She hates being called cute and she hates when people say "awww" lol.

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  6. adorable! (wait...no, "scary.")
    poor little one, even in wanting to be scary (serious) he his naturally adorably cute. I enjoyed this ... especially since I didn't need to curb my laugh.

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  7. Ha.. funny how cute this was, Jennifer. A unique writing from you that I really enjoyed. Smiles.

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  8. Ah, this made me smile. What a delightful write! I can understand HIS reasoning, and I can also understand just how very cute he is. Smiles.

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  9. When one is only six years old, one never can be taken seriously it seems!!! That very cute wanting to be older:)

    Eileen

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  10. The forecast of this cuteness Jennifer?
    ...when he's eighteen, he'll long to be called 'cute' buy the girls.
    Smiles! _m

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  11. Ah.. and yes .. he will stay cute for many years more... and frankly there will come a time when he love to be cute.

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  12. I love "he's still so cute it's scary." Great read from start to finish.

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  13. You took me right into the psyche of the youngest brother. I like your line breaks and the flow of the piece. Good job!

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  14. This is ADORABLE. Kids are the best! Loved it, Jennifer.

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Thank you for your thoughts!