Jelly jars with holes in the lids

                Tombs designed as homes for crawling caterpillar

                and flickering firefly alike.

Judging the value of a structure

                solely on the basis of climbability.

The idea that “Because”

                is an irrefutable answer.

These things remind me of childhood.

These things, and sandcastles and cloud-castles

and even the Easter Bunny had a theme song.

The prom dress that got away

                even though I hid it in the wrong section

                of the store and came back the next day.

Begging my mom for rides to work

                so I wouldn’t have to wait in the pouring rain.

The idea that the boy I’d known the longest

                owed me too much to hurt me.

These things remind me of adolescence.

These things, and pimples, and hiding my dimples,

and too much makeup making me look like a doll.

The day someone finally says

                the sweetest words I’ve never heard

                and means them for me?

Sweet potato pie by the Shop-Rite-bagful

                every time I come back to campus?

The idea that I must give up

                and let the future plan itself?

(If I get the chance to look back)

Will these things remind me of adulthood?

These things, and my son’s face, and the address to my first place,

and it never being too late to say “When I grow up”?