The Untrained Mind

I am a child; the world is my unknown.
I am thrilled with fast and slow,
forwards, backwards, light and dark – a lightswitch!
Only I understand the wonder
of whispers and shouts, cold compared against hot.
Let me discover the magic of colour –
a pencil, a crayon, a paintbrush!
Let my hands investigate the earth –
water, dirt, sand, grass.
Let my hands learn what it is to
pluck a string and make music.
Only I know that to dress myself
is to explore buttons, snaps and zippers.
I read to make nonsense of the world I don’t know
Show me numbers, let me play.
I plant seeds and watch magic make them grow.
Give me clay and my fingers explore a world
of texture, shape and size.
Each time I take a step, cross a bridge, climb a tree
I delight in some unknown.
What’s the difference between he and she
and me and you and they?
Who are animals? What is a person?
How exciting doors and windows are!
And tunnelsunnels echo!
I live for the exhilaration of bouncing balls,
tying string, rolling wheels,
pianos that are oh-so-fun! to play on.
What do you mean unicorns don’t exist anymore –
why not?
Listen to my voice, I can make it sound high or low
Listen to the world, it is always playing music
And with my hands or voice, I can make music too!

Copyright Mallery March 2003