Here’s a little riddle for you. It was written after I spent an afternoon with one of my two granddaughters when she was six.
We made pictures to tape on Grammy’s refrigerator. Then we made some for Mommy and Daddy to put on their refrigerator. After that, she thought it would be fun to play dress up in Grammy’s clothes, shoes, and a big old floppy hat.
“Gram, would you please help me put on my makeup?” I told her I would be honored to help her. Then I had to explain what that meant. Was it a good thing to be honored?
All of a sudden, right out of the blue, she gave me a great big hug.
As I hugged her back, I said, “I love you so much, sweet girl.”
Wearing a huge little girl smile in spite of big girl clothes and make up, she said, “I know. I love you, too, Grammy. Is this what love is? The happy feeling ya get from a hug?”
“That’s a great place to find love. You can find love just about everywhere with your family. I find love just looking at YOU, sweet girl, and I’ve enjoyed our afternoon together.”
“I love playing with you, too, Grammy. You’re fun.”
A Little Riddle
A Children’s Poem
It comes in many flavors.
It comes in lots of smells.
It can keep a secret
and never, ever tell.
You'll know it when you hear it.
If you look, you'll see it, too.
It's everywhere around, outside,
even there, inside of you.
It can turn a sad day happy.
It can turn a mad day glad.
It will even be there,
when you've been really bad.
It's something in both day and night,
every second, every minute.
It's right there in your family
and in everyone who's in it.
Did you guess my riddle?
Just a few things left to say ...
if you want a LOT of it,
then give it ALL away!
It's left and right and all around,
it's under and above.
Did you guess the answer?
It's ELL-OH-VEE-EEE
“LOVE.”
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I just love your writing. In it you show the beauty of innocence and the complexity of life experiences, along with shared human tragedy. It is all done with great compassion and sensitivity.
This poem should be on children's birthday and valentine's cards.