POETRY CORNER

Little One

By Heather Campbell

The world revolves around you, little one.

Do you know that? You walk into Fuel’s coffee shop with your pink high-top shoes that are the size of a teacup, holding your beloved stuffy, your hair bopping around in pigtails, and your smile lights up the room. You look around wondering, what joy is going to envelope you? Who is going to make you smile? Will it be a yummy scone or muffin that awaits you at the counter?

Your Dad thinks you have gotten sooooo big. But really, you’ve only just begun to grow and are still pretty small. And yet, at only the size you are, the world revolves around you. That’s your gravitational pull.

Your big eyes look up at every person with hope and wonder about what happiness might come from your interaction. You pretend to drink from your plastic sippy cup like all of the adults around you who are worshiping their coffees. Wouldn’t hot chocolate be better?

You are judging everything you see — that’s okay. Judging can be a good thing. That’s how you’ll make decisions on your own when it’s time for your Dad to let you. You look at the long, green, pretty sweater the woman has taken off and draped over her chair. You’re thinking, smart lady. She’s found a way to bring her comfy blanket with her and of course, cozy is best. You know that. Why do we forget it?

Your checks bellow out as you chomp down on the croissant Dad is ripping up and feeding you like a little bird as he waits for his coffee. He’s a good dad. He loves you. You know it in your bones, even if those bones are still small.

Your head pivots this way and that way as you look around at all that is happening. Every person steals a glance at you and if they are lucky enough to catch your eye and earn your attention, their day is made brighter.

The world revolves around you, little one.

As it should.

Heather Campbell is a Berkshires resident and local artist. She shares both her observational writings and functional pottery, currently on display at Depart Wine in Great Barrington, in the hopes they bring people joy.