Second Place Winner!

April Ward, Children

Children are loud and dirty,
they never want to clean their mess.
Whenever they do something wrong,
they never want to confess.
For us it’s dirty diapers,
crying all through the night,
scary nightmares, and the dark,
giving the kids a fright.
They have their closet monsters,
with horrible, great big teeth.
They won’t sleep in their bed,
for there’s another one underneath.
When their rowdy friends come to play,
they make a massive mess.
The kids just shrug… they didn’t do it,
so they end up cleaning less.
When kids are scared or hurt,
they’ll run only to you.
Sobbing and looking for comfort,
whenever they’re feeling blue.
But no one else looks up to you
with such trusting, innocent eyes,
Looking for guidance and care,
even through lies and goodbyes.
No one else can be so small and beautiful,
a mini imitation of you.
No one else is so perfect,
then again – all parents feel the same way too!

April Ward