Before

Before you learn to fear
You talk incessantly
Pronounce words
However you like

You laugh when you want
And when you’re upset
You show it

Before you learn the rules
You wipe your nose
On whatever is close by

You eat what looks delicious
You don’t eat when you don’t want to

Before you are subdued
You want to play forever
You don’t want to stop for chores
For the potty or for food

Your imagination is too vast
There’s just not enough time

You are unwritten

I love to watch your story unfold
Before you’re subjected to
The critics and the edits of life