Camden's Poem

This poem is a collection of memories of my papa and playing games with my own daughters and how I envision playing them with my first grandson, Camden.

The first stanza is from the Dr. Seuss book, "Mr. Brown can Moo, Can You"?--one of my kids favorite books I would read to them.

Next is the buried cans--how my Papa made holes so he could teach us how to golf.
Then the circus acts I would do with my kids. Their favorite was when I laid on my backs, they sat in my hand on my extended arms, then with a big "hut" i would throw them up in the air and they would make a 180 degree turn--sometimes a 360--back into my hands--just like in the circus!

Stanza 4--wrestle until dinner---when we wrestled, nobody was allowed to cry if they got hurt, so we raise tough tom-boy girls. It didn't work.
As far as the broccoli--Moriah hates it to this day and has issues that we made her take a bite of it--and the oatmeal cookies--mmm a tradition in our house--baking cookies with Dad.

Papa stories---If we didnt read a book, I would tell my girls a story--their favorites??? A story about a lonely caterpillar, that always ended with tickling, and how I grew up a poor black child---actually the opening line from Steve Martin's "The Jerk", but made the stories up from there.

Then finally, each of the kids would shut their eyes and think if they couldn't see you, you couldn't see them.

OH, THE WONDERFUL THINGS

Oh the wonderful things Cam and Papa can do,
We can go like a cow, we can go MOO-MOO.
We can read another Dr. Seuss Book,
Or take a day trip to the zoo.

Papa will teach you how to golf,
In buried cans we’ll practice putt.
Then we’ll do our circus acts,
And show everyone our “huts”.

We’ll then play Cops and Robbers,
You can put me into jail.
You may think I’m locked away,
But then I’ll escape, I will.

We will wrestle until dinner,
(You cannot cry if you get hurt.)
You won’t have to eat your broccoli,
We’ll bake oatmeal cookies for dessert.

Then it’s time for Papa stories,
Cam’s imagination will run wild.
Stories about lonely caterpillars,
And growing up a poor black child.

And soon it’s time to take Cam home,
Way too soon, that’s a given
When Dad and Mom say “Cam Let’s Go”
Just shut your eyes and you’ll be hidden.

There’s only so much that we can do,
In a single day.
But first I must ask God above,
When can Cam come out and play?


Papa Christmas 2009