Daddy--Norm

Evolving Wealth

I found a treasure in an old shoebox today

Worn edges and faded color,

The snapshot was like gold in my hands

Taking me back and making me rich…

Pink satin heels

Five sizes too big

Cover my tiny feet

As we dance across the hardwood floor

They make no sound

For daddy lets me stand on his boots

Spinning us both in rhythm

To the silence of our kitchen

His calloused hands hold mine

He smells of concrete and dirt

And his sun-beaten face smiles down at me

Mom comes down the stairs to find

I’m borrowing her shoes

And her dance partner

But she doesn’t mind

She smiles as she grabs the old Kodak

And the flash captures this moment in time

Life is simple when you’re five

How was I to know how long his day had been

Or how exhausted he already was

As he picked me up

And gave me butterfly kisses?

Those heels silently taught me

That dad would always let me stand on his boots

Carrying me when I didn’t know the steps

And guiding me when I clumsily got off beat

It’s now that I see,

I found a treasure hiding in mom’s closet that day

Friday the 13th

As you know, today was Friday the 13th. Well, technically it was yesterday but we're gonna continue calling it today anyhow. In honor of this occasion a large group of us from the singles ward decided to watch a scary movie. It was a terrible terrible idea. I actually don't like scary movies all that much. I like them while they're on with a group but as soon as it's over and I'm alone, they leave me with a very eery feeling and I am not a fan. Now it's 2:30 in the morning and I can't sleep. So here I lay, a temporary insomniac, who is thoroughly creeped out and giving a warning unto all...don't watch a scary movie when you have to go home alone that night. It's not a good plan. I will now try to trick myself with happy thoughts. Goodnight, all.

Madre--Amy

Hand in hand

She glances over at me

And her eyes smile

Tires swallow asphalt

As we sing our hearts out

Like old friends

And we are

I’m four years old

Crying at the door

When she has to leave

Donning her shirt

I lay in her bed

Closing my eyes

And breathing in

Her scent

While I wait for

Her return

I’m ten and

I can’t seem to

Stay awake

To finish my paper on

The Boston Tea Party

In the morning

The last few sentences

Are in place

But they aren’t my words

I’m a whole seventeen

And my heart was

Just broken for the first time

She strokes my ratted hair

The curly mess

Which we share

Without so much as

“I told you so”

I’m twenty and

Living in my own apartment

She comes to visit and

We both can see

How much I have grown

As we share stories

Late into the night

We are now equals

She respects my

Opinions and advice

As I do hers

The only friend

I’ve always had

She’s helped me transition

From Barbies

To books

To boyfriends

And now

To becoming an adult

No matter how many

Years pass

I will never be too old

Or too busy

To tell her secrets

And take her hand

She has never been too busy

To take mine.

Sapphire

So I clearly couldn't pick one picture. We have a lot pictures together and I love them way too much to not include them in this post! But seriously, look at the one of her by herself. Isn't she just gorgeous?

(Check out her cute self over here!)

Warning: This poem may or may not, but most certainly does, contain many inside jokes.

Gnomes That *Thump*

I have never had my own room.

Except for once.

After a fight.

I moved to the basement

For ten minutes.

I have never had my own room

So when my world seemed to be ending

I had someone to talk to

Someone who hugged me tight

And rubbed my back

Until I fell asleep.

I have never had my own room

So if an interested boy placed a phone call

He had to be prepared for a conversation

With the both of us.

I have never had my own room

So I never got much sleep

Sharing laughter and inside jokes

Of *thumps*

And gnomes in the wall

Until the early morning.

I have never had my own room

And I suppose that accounts

For who I am today.

Because I have had

My best friend

My sister

Beside me the whole way.

I have not always appreciated

The fact that

I have never had my own room.

I do now.

Steele

“Little Brother”

When you were younger

You used to say

That you wanted to

Marry me

I thought you strange

But according to mom

That’s what little kids say

When they admire someone

We grew older and

You had no other brother so

I filled the role

Football, basketball, baseball,

And a “Wanna wrestle?”

When I came home

A handwritten letter

I wrote

Still tacked onto your wall

I never realized

Just how much

It meant

Now that you’re in high school

And I’ve moved away

There’s something

You should know:

I respect and admire you too,

More and more

Each passing day

I no longer have to

Dress you and

Teach you how to act

You seem to have

A feel for it

And the girls sure noticed fast

I almost wish

I hadn’t taught you

How to be so cool

For, in my eyes,

No one will ever be

Good enough for

My little brother

I guess “my little brother”

Is not so little anymore

You outgrew me long ago

But I will always,

Always

Be protective of the boy

I love so much

A great athlete

You now dominate in sports

And with a name like “Steele”

Others are intimidated

But I know better

I know

You really wanted

To be named “Trixy”

For the longest time

And I know,

Though mature for your age,

You still manage to

Slip away to

A magical land of

Batteries

I know

That you have

A heart of gold

I’ve seen you

Play with children

And I’ve watched you become

The greatest brother

I have ever known

I admire you,

“Little brother,”

And all the potential

 That you have

I look up to you,

“Little brother,”

Quite literally now

I wouldn’t change you,

“Little brother,”

Not one little thing

And I cannot

Wait to see

The man you’re

Meant to be