Quibblings
There are many things they don’t tell you
when you share your happy news,
like the way the love hits you like a punch
while the responsibility is terrifying,
that privacy is a thing of the past,
and one day you will be That parent,
no matter what you promise.
But they never mention the noise,
that scraping metal, goose bumpy noise
of siblings bickering.
They squabble over snacks,
argue about the TV,
shove and grunt – who sits in the front.
The experts say they’re jealous:
competing for attention,
learning how to negotiate
or developing their patience…
While testing mine.
