Poet of the Day #2

Naomi Shihab Nye gets today's honor by virtue of the fact that she has written this totally amazing poem using only things she overheard her son say when he was two and three years old. Here 'tis:

One Boy Told Me

Music lives inside my legs.
It's coming out when I talk.

I'm going to send my valentines
To people you don't even know.

Oatmeal cookies make my throat gallop.

Grown-ups keep their feet on the ground
When they swing. I hate that.

Look at those 2 o's with a smash in the middle—
That spells goodbye.

Don't ever say “purpose” again,
Let's throw that word out.

Don't talk big to me.
I'm carrying my box of faces.
If I want to change faces I will.

Yesterday faded
But tomorrow's in BOLD FACE.

When I grow up my old names
Will live in the house
Where we live now.
I'll come and visit them.

Only one of my eyes is tired.
The other eye and my body aren't.

Is it true that all metal was liquid first?
Does that mean if we bought our car earlier
They could have served it
In a cup?

There's a stopper in my arm
That's not going to let me grow any bigger.
I'll be like this always, small.

And I will be deep water too.
Wait. Just wait. How deep is the river?
Would it cover the tallest man with his hands in the air?

Your head is a souvenir.

When you were in New York I could see you
In real life walking in my mind.

I'll invite a bee to live in your shoe.
What if you found your shoe
Full of honey?

What if the clock said 6:92
Instead of 6:30? Would you be scared?

My tongue is the car wash
For the spoon.

Can noodles swim?

My toes are dictionaries.
Do you need any words?

From now on I'll only drink white milk
On January 26.

What does minus mean?
I never want to minus you.

Just think—no one has ever seen
Inside this peanut before!

It is hard being a person.

I do and don't love you—
Isn't that happiness?

Recommendations for Traveling With Kids

Those of us who are parents know well how tough it can be when we're trying to get somewhere with the kids—if our destination is far away and we have to fly, it's usually even harder. With that in mind, we at SmarterTravel decided to survey our readers about how best to travel with children. The article I wrote about what they had to say just went live today. Hope you like it.

July and August Fun

in photos! Here are some highlights:




To see the whole album, visit my Fotki page.

The Senate Doesn't Make Toys, It Makes Them Safer

It's a good day when the U.S. government, against huge industry opposition, actually does something for its citizens. Last week, the House passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 by a vote of 424-1. Not to be outdone, the Senate then promptly passed the bill 89-3. Here's what this law will do:

• Make toy regulations mandatory, which means that magnets and many other hazards will be subject to the new law's centerpiece third-party testing requirement;
  
• Ban six toxic phthalates in children's products. Three are banned permanently. Three would then be subject to a CPSC scientific review, but are banned until it is completed.
  
• Grant private-sector employees protection as whistleblowers.
  
• Establish a public database of potential hazards.
  
• Require that choking hazards be disclosed in Internet advertising.

As a parent, I have to say that it's a relief to not have to worry quite as much about the toys my child will come into contact with. Let's just hope that President Bush, facing overwhelming support in Congress, has the sense to sign this sensible, if overdue, piece of legislation.