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.