Proof
All of the experts need it
A video to show
that we didn’t create an elaborate tale
At home
your words, your beautiful voice runs clear
“I did it!”
“All done”
“I love you”
You communicate that you adore south park, the geese are flying overhead,
the melodrama of acting out emotions and laughing,
the connections we don’t see
and the darting trails of light on the ceiling we miss.
Still we need proof.
We need proof you know your colors
your shapes
your ABCs
your numbers up to 10.
Screaming every time we drove up to school
At first asking please
That he learn with all of the other children
And then yelling, almost suing, finding
that you can’t fight a person who doesn’t
believe you.
That question of what you understand
shouldn’t have been asked.
And every time you knew,
the camera would turn on and you would stop
frozen,
unwilling to honor those who don’t believe
you have
a million ideas
churning
with words too complex.
That stare, blank, would say,
“why?”
Resistance to that question- I have it too.
I no longer allow people to need proof.
I cannot invite you someplace you don’t believe exists.
