Ideas for Growing Up
by Erik Kestler

"You can be anything you want one day
when you grow up, grow up,"
my grandma said as we flipped
our storybook pictures.

Thus I thought,
black-hatted chimney sweep?
Smith among walls of useful
tools stubbled like snails?

Grinning beggar with open hand,
zigzag feather in his cap?
Chinaman with pen lines
for eyes, gathering rice in the rain?