For Christmas Mommy gave me
a shirt
some shoes and a
skein of yarn.
Daddy gave me
a book
a picture and
a pair of socks.
Clara gave me
socks,
a book
and more yarn.
The cousins sent a canvas satchel.

MawMaw gave me Rhythm.
PawPaw gave me Verse.

Eight books total,
curling, yellow pages.
Inked to the sides,
careful cursive notes.

I don't ask.
I don't have to.

PawPaw got a Ph.D.
PawPaw taught in
Sunny California.

PawPaw taught
Students
What poetry meant.

I crack the cover of
ee cummings.
A folded slip of paper
glides to my lap.

I. Paraphrase and comment on Sonnet CXVI, p. 157

PawPaw used to teach
Students
What poetry means...

MawMaw helped him
Choose.
They sat in the basement
Together.

Dickenson and
Frost
Keats and
Cummings
Barrett Browning and
Housman

MawMaw gave me Rhythm.
PawPaw gave me Verse.

Carefully inked on the edges are
Notes.