Small people make little comments
which somehow make them seem large—
in their own eyes.
The mighty admire the intellect,
and revel in lessons learned
by a tiny brainsponge with an infinite capacity for love and learning.

If you love me
speak large,
sing tall
let your
unconditional words
read as loud volumes
in my album of life.

There
now you have my desire.

Valerie MacEwan is the editor and publisher of The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature.  This poem, that first appeared on her Mental Kudzu, is reprinted  with permission.