What are little boys made of?

What are little boys made of?

Snips and snails and slugs

And puppy-dogs’ tails,

That’s what little boys are made of.

~

Father's day makes a fast approach

Little boys everywhere have always heard

As told down through centuries on and on

That snakes and snails and such things

Are what wiggles down deep inside of them

While little girls of course are made of

Yuck, sugar and spice and everything nice

Being a girl....What's that you say?

I've not been a girl for a while!

Ah, shut up! I am too a girl, in my mind

Anyway, being a girl, I reiterate

I beg to disagree, we are not sugar and spice

We are fire, ice, and grit and tough as nails

Boys, you are strength and bravery and love

Sure, some of you guys love to play with

And tease the girls with snips and snails

And puppy dog tails, hopefully those tails

Are still attached to poor unfortunate dogs

Father's day, we are asked to remember the dads

What type of dad will you be remembered as

The kind loving dad, always there for his children

The mean drunk, coming home to unload his ire

On the backs of a scared and traumatized child or

A long suffering and tolerant wife, inured to pain

The dad who attends the games and cheers

Even when your child is the worse one on the team

The dad who loves his child even though he knows

Biologically, still he loves unconditionally and true

No one being perfect, be the best dad that you can be

When you fall, because fall we all will from time to time

Arise and start anew, we are but humans and we err

Fathers, teach your sons a new rhyme that suits the times

What are little boys made of?

Rocks and mountains and really tall trees

Striving to reach higher within their minds

To be strong and courageous in their own ways

Forging their own paths with purpose and might

Be respectful, kind and loving in their hearts

Compromise not their integrity, holding fast

For respect given, respect will be received

Learn to triumph over adversity and keep on

It is the builder of strength and character

What are little boys made of?

Bravery and fun and mighty big hearts

And a little bit of a lot of other great things!

N.A.