A Poem by Our Own Catherine Wood

A Poem for Mothers in Winter




by Catherine Wood



My house is full of pirates and princesses;

fencing in the hall,

dancing through the kitchen.

My husband calls,

"Avast! Prepare to defend against boarders!"

But we were invaded long ago by the little people.

Sometimes a flotilla of laundry-basket boats lines the living room.

Sometimes there is darkness at noon,

while cowboys sleep in tents on the prairie.

Today, the peasant girls are singing,

carrying cornfeed in their aprons

to feed the indoor chickens.

Just before lunch, Daniel Boone rode into town

with a small bear thrown across his horse,

(a bear that looked a lot like his baby sister

in a panda hat).



It used to be more boring around here.

There used to be a bunch of hollering kids,

pulling all the cushions off my couch,

strewing clothes,

dropping ice and jelly on the floor,

avoiding their schoolwork,

oblivious to law and order.



But then, one day,

I saw the fairies come to play,

and they brought with them

those handsome stagecoach drivers,

ridin' hard to outpace robbers,

hot on the Sundance Trail.



One day, I'm sure they'll all ride off into the sunset,

leaving my living room and kitchen

all in perfect order.

But 'til then,

my house is full of pirates and princesses.