He uses his whole body
to say no
like they teach
in dance class
be
the
emotion
but it’s not what you think
boneless tantrums
unspooling in the grocery store
or inexorable refusals to eat peas
he uses the word
like a pen
to write the memoirs
of bruises and spills
points to the drink in his hand
to the floor
then the bellow of no!
telling me
with the glow of an old bard
remember, mama
remember that time
a few minutes ago
when I poured
and poured
wasn’t it wicked
and fun.