EIGHTY-EIGHT KEYS TO OVERZEALOUS PARENTING

- John Ragozzine, from the blog From Here to Paternity

On that day, family all gathered around
To eat and rouse some innocent rabble
When all heads turned toward a tinkling sound
That floated above the polite, idle babble.

Two pointer fingers struck the piano,
Classiest grunt in Percussion's Platoon,
Hazel plunked keys, tiny face all aglow,
Our ears heard her play a passable tune.

"Concertos!" our prophetic minds did screech.
"Just think of the awards she's sure to win!"
"Will I be thanked in her acceptance speech?"
In truth, parents tend to read too much in.

Yes, we jumped to assumptive conclusions;
Please forgive us our hopeful delusions.

© 2008 John Ragozzine