too much

is it too much to ask?

silence for singing your songs,
reading your books, writing your words.

silence for swinging your imaginary bat,
resting in your hammock, listening to your radio.

silence for eating at your table,
riding in your car, living in your presence.

is it too much to ask?

no yelling, no repetition,
no games blocking your view.
no interruption, no silliness,
no changing direction. no fun.

is it too much to ask?

i think it is.

it is too much to ask you to enjoy
being a father to your children.

it is too much to ask you to join in,
swinging an imaginary sword in battle.

it is too much to ask you to stick
grapes on your fingers and eat them.

t is too much to ask you to talk
to your kids rather than at them.

it is too much to ask you to teach
them instead of directing.

it is too much to ask them to all
grow up, and act that way. right now.

they’ll be all grown up too soon.
and you’ll have missed it all.

but you’ll still have a computer.
you’ll still have npr, video games and music.
you’ll still have all the things
you show us you want most.