deadlines

I must get them all in now
give you a surplus of them
now, dear son
while they still tickle
and make you chuckle with delight

pretty soon you will grow
to be too fast
to be too busy
(chasing bugs, chasing dogs
biking past the little old ladies in the park)

pretty soon
you will have
too many things to do
too many places to be
to bother

pretty soon you will be
(like all the little boys before you)
too grown up to enjoy
your father's affection