"TRANSITION"

Sad and bewildered,
eight six year olds,
newly arrived
from St. Ann's Infant Home,
sit on a long green bench
in the basement hallway
of the boys' dormitory
at St. Vincent's Orphans Home.

An older boy,
directs their attention
to a row of coat hooks
on the wall before them,
assigning each a numbered hook
which also serves
as laundry number.

This done,
the children find themselves alone
to sort things out as best they can.

Frank, an older boy,
sits down beside
his homesick brother,
and
holds him by the hand.
Then taking first
his little brother's thumb,
he follows with each finger,
as he says:
"This little piggy went to market.
This little piggy stayed home.
This little piggy had roast beef.
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy went,
Wee! Wee! Wee! Wee!
all the way home."

His little brother,
brimming with a merry laughter,
Frank continues on:
Grabbing first his forefinger,
then his thumb,
he says:
"See my finger.
See my thumb.
See my fist.
You'd better run,
you son of a gun!"

At this,
his little brother bursts in laughter,
dispelling all his present woe.

Then rising,
Frank, with arm around
his brother's shoulders,
walks with him,
around the basement floor.
As they walk,
he flaps his little brother's ears,
all the while saying:
"Green ears, green ears,
moldy ears, moldy ears."

Forgetting now his separation
from his infant home,
Frank's youngest brother,
falls in stride with life
at his new home.

(November 4, 2000)