We would gather
in groups on playgrounds
one of us saying "okay,
pretend I'm Han Solo and you're Chewie"
and then we'd clamber off wildly
into our tire swing Millennium Falcon
Or across the yard
another one of us would decree
"I'll be the mama and you be the baby"
a delicate nursery tucked in the dirt
under a jungle gym
little roles
mini performances
our own epic films
during recess
in our play
Now when we gather
in theaters and
pretend to be someone else,
they say we are playing a role
And when we make a notes on instruments,
we are playing music
When we step on stage
When we sing ourselves hoarse
When we pick up a paintbrush or marker or pen
we are responding to
the snaggle-toothed muse of the playground
as he calls to us
not to finish our spelling
or memorize our times tables
or stand in straight lines
but to play
To play.
play.
PLAY!
We would gather
in groups on playgrounds
one of us saying "okay,
pretend I'm Han Solo and you're Chewie"
and then we'd clamber off wildly
into our tire swing Millennium Falcon
Or across the yard
another one of us would decree
"I'll be the mama and you be the baby"
a delicate nursery tucked in the dirt
under a jungle gym
little roles
mini performances
our own epic films
during recess
in our play
Now when we gather
in theaters and
pretend to be someone else,
they say we are playing a role
And when we make a notes on instruments,
we are playing music
When we step on stage
When we sing ourselves hoarse
When we pick up a paintbrush or marker or pen
we are responding to
the snaggle-toothed muse of the playground
as he calls to us
not to finish our spelling
or memorize our times tables
or stand in straight lines
but to play
To play.
play.
PLAY!
