Children Are Invisible Fliers

Noemí Keila Villaparedes Ley

"For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends."

— Shel Silverstein

Dedicated to children everywhere...

Exterminator

I am on a mission to exterminate pride
because my teacher challenged me to.
She said that I couldn’t;
I promised I would,
and that’s exactly what I planned to do.

And so I walked with my chest
through the tedious school hall,
determination plastered on my face.

Until a sharp elbow hit me
On the blade of my shoulder
and I turned around to see Grace.
She scowled and groaned
“Who do you think you are?’
So I raised my head slightly and said
I’m a dangerous assassin; an undercover spy
Matter of fact, I think I’ll have you dead.

And then I walked off
victorious and mighty.
What a fool that Grace must be
to think she could even come close to becoming
as pretty or smart as
me.

And then the people cheered
and hollered my name
and threw rose petals at my feet
But my walk was still measured and slow
And- Oh,
what’s that you ask?
Right, pride.
Wait, what does that mean again?

(F = Gm1m2/r2) 0 = Everything

Zero Gravity Zone, the ad read.
It consumed me slowly,
pushing me out of reality
where I sat criss cross applesauce
on my Dora the Explorer blanket;
my bottom sinking into the earth.

I wanted to fly because flying is fun;

not because I anticipated the future.
The pressure on my head and shoulders.
Earth’s cynical pull to it’s fiery core.
The failed attempts of 7.8 billion flyers.

I wanted to fly because
flying would make Tag, like, so much cooler;

not because I desired to achieve the impossible.
Snap the chain forever.
Hop into a rocket, zoom off into space,
and leave my kind behind.

I wanted to fly because flying meant
nothing.

But, now, I never want to because flying is
everything.

Only the Falsely Wise Speak in Ciphers

Children is vital
but one day
Children will bleed out
she’ll scrape her knee
playing hopscotch
on the blacktop
hoping for a band aid
maybe a hug
only to be left with piercing words
ringing in her ears

Children will sit there
whole but helpless
cradling his body
in prayers of mercy
looking up at me
with unknowing eyes
and I’ll turn my back and say
“Children, it’s time to grow up.”

Children is not mine to disrupt
but I do
wielding and warping his mind
desperately trying to rid Children
of his childness

Children does not speak in ciphers
that I have to decode
Children speaks
through megaphones
on top of every landmark
reciting my resolutions
defenselessly awaiting my open fire

Children is unaware of her value
and so am I
unaware of her cement
between our tectonic plates

Canine Hesitations

Does a mother wolf love her pups?
A question answered in actions.
Her body moves in service to them.
Leaning her right paw on an acerbic wit.

The wood is her third
dwelling place.
The cave is her second,
the cold rock
dripping miseries onto her ears,
her pups nestling under her shield.

In the lull of twilight,
a wreckoning occurs.
Like clockwork,
thousands of blades
nip at her underside
and suck out every spirit
within her temple,
ripping her to shreds
until she becomes the prey
that she once hunted.

Then she escapes
back to the wood
and consumes
2 rabbits
2 squirrels
and a forgiving house sparrow.

She is ready to return to the litter
and at the foot of the cave,
the foot of a tribulation,
her trembling snout
pushes on.

Mama, Momma

(Strum C, A, F, G)

[1 round]

[C] The tears you cried on your wedding day,
[A] were they truly happy? Or sad?
[F] Is this the man you’d love for life?
[G] Or were you passed down by your dad?

[C] What were your goals, your dreams, your wishes,
[A] before you had me with him?
[F] I get to do what you never got to.
[G] I'm scared to think it’s a sin.

[C] I remember the nights where we had KFC
[A] because that’s all we could afford.
[F] And I know you don’t like to think of the memories;
[G] the ones of when we were poor.

[C] But I want you to know that I never knew it
[A] cause’ your love was so strong
[F] You’re the mom. You’re the dad. You’re the aunts in between.
[G] You bring the life to this song.

[1 round + C]