All I'm doing is touching my chin today.
This is maybe the only thing I would do by myself
that I feel comfortable doing

in front of Renee. I have not been able to make her laugh.
The children like it if I pretend to keep guessing the wrong thing. 

The room gets called ours because it's theirs 
and we know how to make it look right.
Not, "Anything on the floor, pick it up and put it in your pocket."

Occasionally, I'll say something I like about hitting.
Untie what I think is the truth from the rule.

But they ask what there is to do with a bear
besides shoot it? What better way to clean up
the work we do than see it disappear? And

do I know that what's going to happen is funny?
Do I know the most powerful thing in the world is money?

They don't notice that the snow melts or freezes away.
Only that they are playing alone or with someone else
no matter what it's like outside. Only to forget

the art they make and remember who was with them
at the time. Whose name they wrote and made it for

when it was over and they'd set aside their pen,  
who may not know what to say
in response.