today I found myself wondering
what was Poe like as a child
was he all moody, broody darkness
from an early age
or did he have an impish grin
and a way of laughing at his own joke
before saying the punch line aloud
what did his mother think
did she worry
did she fret
or did she love him a little more
and stand between him and the world
lookin’ for a fight
if anyone dared hurt her little boy
for it’s all right to be different
to not follow the crowd
but it’s not all right to tease and belittle
those who see the world through poet’s eyes
today I found myself wondering
about Edgar Allen Poe’s mother