Francis

little one

the whole wide world

is a little weary of big things.

Teach us

to take the bus

to fry an egg

to play the charming child

before a crowd.

We want to wear white

without irony.

We want to pray at night

for a little brother.

Our Father

is good enough for now

we're too tired for explanations.

Francis

it might be fall at home

but it's spring in Rome

and these little flowers

shyly smiling–

bluebells, daffodils–

tell us lovely stories

we all want to believe