I Bow to You

To all the Pops 

who make the most 

of what they got, yet never take 

the most of what they make.

To the pizza cookers, 

 juice spill cleaners, kids’

bop hoppers who dance nonstop 

from the first minute that they wake.

I bow to every child that ever asked 

a question, to every fairy tale reader,

times table quizzer, popsicle stick painter 

who gave answers and helped 

the asker to digest them.

I bow to third shifters, 

keyboard typers, 

fighters for the flow, 

to all the many trials

where all of us must go.

Before we hurry there 

let's take this moment 

to set a goal, make a promise, 

form a pact, to inhale 

all we share and exhale 

this vow:

As we strain, 

shout, sob, 

scoff and sigh,

beneath the temper

mental skies,

we will also bow

to the ever fleeting, 

connect four, 

chute and ladder,

hide and 

seeking, 

wow.