Grown ups are strangers i know

the scratch that tells you how tall you were

when the kitchen was clean and smelled like pot roast

when squeezed grapefruit halves are at the top of the full garbage

and papa's shorts are drying in a cool twilight

above the stone bird bath.

and my grandmother is putting the candy where we can reach it

and i can't decide what to play with..

the orange teddy bear we all share

or the keys that i imagine will unlock a secret room.

when i hear the name josephine 

when i hear the name ann

when i hear the name dennis

and margaret

grown ups are strangers i know