Little pitchers have big ears: 16th century proverb, meant as a caution that children may be listening.
there’s a formica top table in your grandmother's kitchen
where she and your mother sit and shell peas
you're five or you’re six and they talk about things
like how much and when Miz So-and-So drinks
and you think of how thirsty you get in the summer
how you drink from the hose or even the sprinkler
and they talk about Miz Somebody's boy overseas
if he comes home will he be in one piece
and you think of the quilt your grandmother made
from dresses you couldn't wear anymore
how she cut up the pieces
the sound of the scissors
they talk about things like how big you're gettin'
you're five or you're six
you sit in your chair on an old yellow pages
your mother says you're growin' like a weed
and you think of a crown you made out of daisies
your grandmother turns to your mother and winks
says big enough now she can start shellin’ peas.