KOOLAIDE MUSTACHE SMILE
© 1988 by Lisa Dietz
Whenever he enters the bathroom, he always remembers
to wash his hands before he leaves
standing on the strongbox on the floor
so he can reach the faucet.
It's not that he's a particularly dirty child
or that I keep a messy bathroom.
It's just that he's a child of order –
things in their place, the right way, the right time,
matchbox cars lined up and sorted according to color and size,
all the stuffed animals arranged by mommies and babies,
guns hidden strategically throughout the house to protect
from bad guys that might pop up from anywhere.
He doesn't know how to tell time but he always asks me what it is.
Pink, squeegy clean hands,
Koolaide mustache smile
Military madness
That's my son.