Twelve

12
the last year of childhood
should be met with
wonder
promise
adventure

yours was met with police officers
who thought you looked
twenty-one
and a toy that looked
too real to wait more than
three seconds

it snowed here today
my boy turned
twelve
it snowed on your last day of
twelve too

he is a lot like you
sweet face
big sister
brown skin
loving mama

twelve.
the last year of childhood
12

for Tamir Eric Rice

by Micky ScottBey Jones