\u201cWhen I grow up
\nI won\u2019t be able to play anymore.\u201d
\nSo Jackie said,
\nin the middle of childhood,
\non October 25, 2003,
\nin the middle of eternity,
\nnext to forever\u2019s window.
\nPlaying trains on the carpet
\nwith Papa,
\nwho was taking lessons in playing,
\nwith Jackie,
\nchief engineer of the railroad.<\/p>\n
I rallied my forces.
\nI let out my breath.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s not so Jackie,\u201d I said,
\n\u201cI play don\u2019t I?\u201d, moving a car,
\ntrembling inside.
\nWhat had he seen?
\nMy neediness to play?
\nOr the whole world
\ncrowding around the island of children?
\nThe vastness of its playground?
\nToo big for play?
\nWhatever.<\/p>\n
I determined to play,
\nto laugh,
\nto show him my joy,
\nand be the best playmate
\nI could be,
\nand we played
\nas if nothing had passed.
\nThe first thing in life,
\nbeing a child,
\nand with care
\nthe last.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cWhen I grow up I won\u2019t be able to play anymore.\u201d So Jackie said, in the middle of childhood, on October 25, 2003, in the…<\/p>\n