When Will My Life Begin

Seven A.M., the usual morning line-up

Start on the chores, and sweep til the floors all clean

Polish and wax, do laundry and mop and shine up

Sweep again

And by then

Its, like, seven-fifteen

And so I'll read a book

Or maybe two or three

Ill add a few new paintings

To my gallery

I'll play guitar and knit

and cook and basically

Just wonder, when will my life begin?

Then, after lunch, its puzzles, and darts and baking...

Papier-maché, a bit of ballet, and chess...

Pottery and ventriloquy, candle-making...

Then I'll stretch

Maybe sketch

Take a climb

Sew a dress

And I'll re-read the books

If I have time to spare

I'll paint the wall some more

Im sure theres room somewhere

And then Ill brush, and brush

And brush, and brush my hair

Stuck in the same place Ive always been

And I'll keep wondring

And wondring

And wondring

And wondring

When will my life begin?

Tomorrow night...

The lights will appear

Just like they do on my birthday each year

What is it like

Out there where they glow?

Now that Im older

Mother might just let me go...