Word Play

Patsy made a daring leap from
Four feet up she propelled her torso
Off the seat to land, then tumble
Onto the wood-chipped earth.
She’d half expected a mouthful
Of tanbark.

Dirty mouth, potty mouth,
Soap and bitters wash it out
Learn your lesson before you
Speak—you cannot retract
A single word, not a single
Word.

So swing away, you little miss,
There’s not much time to fit
This in—Summer will in short
Be gone and you will wish
That you had played a little
Nicer with the gentle boy
From down the way.

She might have spared
Her tongue a tad had she known
That words could hurt.
She could not bare embarrassment
So she pushed him with all
Her girly might,
Then let fly
A few quick words, proving
Far, far worse than the dusty
Grit of playground dirt.