Joy in a Jar

 This story poem (I called it a stoem at the time) was written for my son Jed.  Jed was a happy child growing up and he always made me laugh.  There were times at work when I daydreamed and wished I could bring him to work so I could spend time with him.  This feeling could extend to any father longing to spend time with their little boy.  It is perhaps a reminder that there are moments of time that can be spent with our children, and we should make time for those (because as with a work day, time passes).

~KH

For Jed

I wish I could bring you in a jar to work with me

You'd have to be the right size to fit inside the jar, of course...

I'd have to shrink you before I left, play clothes and all

We'd have to shrink some snacks for you too.

I'd carry you to the bus stop where you'd wait with me - peering out of your rounded glass window

Watching till the bus arrived and we boarded

The bumpy bus ride might make you tumble and tossle,

But of course I thought of shrinking pillows for you for inside the jar

So you wouldn't hurt yourself so much

Soon enough the bus would rumble to a stop by the place where I work

We'd stop for breakfast of course and I'd shrink you a danish and some chocolate milk (your favorite)

Then we'd head inside the building through the carousel doors

To the elevators which would take us to the floor that I work

After saying hello to the secretary in front, we'd head to my desk

Where'd I'd let you out and show you around

If you need to go potty...you better go now.

9:00!  It's time to start!

There's lots of things you can help me do

You could jump on the stapler when I put papers together

And help me clip papers together with paper clips as needed

Since you know your letters, you can jump from key to key on my keyboard

And type important memos for me

You can bring me my letter opener when it's time to open mail.

And when you get bored, you can go an an expedition in the jungle of my desk drawer.

When I have to leave my desk on an errand, you can hang onto my name badge and do bungee jumps with the elastic string

12:00!  It's time for lunch!  Peanut butter and jelly sandwich for you, and bologna and cheese for me.

We will eat outside on the Square

So you can see all the sights and sounds of people passing by

People chatting, the fountain bubbling

I'll let you play in the fountain of course

And I will share some ice cream

Then it's back to work and nap time for you

I make you a bed out of my post-it note holder and fluff it with cotton balls from the floor first aid kit

By the time you wake up it will be almost time to go

Be careful not to get caught in the things I pack up!

Work is done...time to go back to the jar

And back on the bus for a pleasant ride home.

So we both can share the adventures we had with those that love us there.