In the Beginning

[Lizzie]

In the beginning, there was construction paper.
The children said, let us cut it into shapes:
triangles for alligator teeth,
ovals for panda tongues,
rectangles for orangutan feet.

Color and water seeped into the paper,
while the crafter's sand remained
on the surface.

There were sequins, buttons,
pom poms and pipe cleaners--
all separated from each other
according to size and hue.
And the children longed
to end their loneliness,
the disconnection between elements.

So, the children said, let there be glue,
enough to cover the whole earth.
We will join the trees–-
paper shapes to table, cabinets,
floor, and baseboard. It is not good
for them to be alone.

And we will bind humans together into one:
hand to hair, fingertip to palm--sticky
like us. One likeness for each child.

Then they said, let us cover our creations
in glitter. They saw that it was good,
and reveled in their creations without rest.