Childplay Poem by The Poet SPIEL

afterwards —
you learn to touch the knob
with your eyes closed
so you may believe it cannot hurt you
twisting it silently
like you are not touching it at all

you learn to release the latch
pressing your small body
against such a heavy door
so delicately
the hinges will not groan
like he makes them groan

you learn to shift your tiny feet
whisper-like
as you believe an angel
might shift its wings
as if your feet never touch the floor and

while he is in his deepest sleep
you learn to become invisible
like a grass snake escaping
thru the garden so
you may play in the dark

you eventually learn
even in sunlight
not to cast a shadow

— but before all this
you had to learn
not to scream
________________by The Poet SPIEL