ma as in mama as in grandmas as in aunties
ma as in milk as in moon hip lap swing
ight as in light as in sun as in let there be
sparkle as in off as in on look-look see
da as in father as in man as in bearded one
pick me up shoulder ride squeeze my feet sky
owey as in odie as in teeth as in tongue
owey as in breath as in wolf pup bark romp
ayaya as in Alexa play Baby Shark
Five Little Monkeys dance-party stomp
uh-oh as in oops as in mess as in hahaha
uh-oh as in game as in play as in please don’t stop
mine as in mine as in mine as in mine
as in hungry as in ma as in da as in want
Following a long career as a project manager, Mary Beth Hines writes poetry and short fiction and non-fiction from her home in Massachusetts. Her work has appeared in the Aurorean, Crab Orchard Review, Galway Review, Gyroscope Review, Literary Mama, and other journals. When not writing, she swims, takes long walks, and spends as much time as possible with her year-old grandson.
Poem © 2020, Mary Beth Hines
Graphic © 2020, Alison Stedman
Halfway Down the Stairs 