I felt a tiny hand
slip into my own,
“Maw maw, is it time to go?”
before the break of dawn.

“I want pancakes.”—“I want eggs.”—
“I want chocolate milk.”
Four different orders at IHOP
and maw maw paid the bill.

“Now children listen to the Word—
be still, you must not joke…
I saw you pushing Morgan dear.
No, it’s not time to go…

No candy or no gum today
until you eat your meal—
Put up the games, let’s go outside—
Oh, is that rain I feel??”

My hair’s a mess, my head is too
The beds are still unmade—
There’s candy in the carpet floor
and cool aid in the eggs?

Do they love me anyway?
Can they comprehend
though maw maw's old and grumpy
she loves them to no end?

I felt a tiny hand
slip into my own,
“Maw maw, is it time  to go?
Please don't bring me home.”