Voices in my soul

Like many adults I think
I have a child's voice inside
when I listen to this voice
and have loving conversations
full of give and take
and jokes and fun
and the occasional nasty anger
and fear and dread
and the need to be somewhere else
and when I do it and I can accept
this child's limitations
             and humanity
             and not wanting to be perfect
             to do all I want to do
             but just be
             a child
when I can respond with love
             to the pain
life is good.