Nora’s World
by Pat Severin
“Nora’s World” read by Pat Severin.
Her parents named her Nora Ann, Nora Ann McLawler,
but no one called her Nora Ann, that wasn’t what they’d call her.
That baby girl was nearly two and, yes, was pretty little.
Her nickname fit her, oh, so well. She’d hear it and she’d giggle.
Right from the day she learned to walk, they called her by this name,
and little Nora liked it, too — no other quite the same.
She came up to a grown-up’s knees and that’s the reason why
to everyone, this girl was known as Little Nora Knee-High!
Yes, Little Nora Knee-High was small as she could be;
in fact, her world was pretty strange, as far as she could see.
Each morning when the sun came up, she’d jump right out of bed,
run down the hall to Bobby’s room, and poke him in the head.
“Boppy, Boppy, get up, come! Come and play today!
You gotta come, the sun is out! Come now, Boppy. Play!”
So, brother Bobby slowly stands upon the cold wood floor
and says, “Oh, yikes, that floor is cold! Go out and close the door!”
So, Nora leaves so he can change, but struggles with the door.
The doorknob’s hard for her to turn. “Boppy, help me more!”
She goes into the kitchen where her mom is making coffee.
Her dad is heading to the store, her sister shouts, “Buy toffee!”
Her grandma and her grandpa are both sitting at the table.
Grandpa reads the paper while her grandma eats a bagel.
But in this sea of people, little Nora sees just knees —
bony, chubby, smooth or rough, that’s all that Nora sees!
A world of knees and wandering legs for her to dodge and bump.
Some come with bruises, dimples, too, some even have a lump!
But Nora’s used to what she sees, her world’s a different place
with only knees to talk to — a far cry from a face!
But Nora knows whose knees are whose and says she doesn’t mind.
That may seem weird, but not to her; yes, Nora does just fine.
Her mama’s knees are pink and soft, and Dad’s are tanned and brown.
Bobby’s knees are bruised and scabbed, the toughest knees in town!
Mr. Smith, the mailman, wears pants that have blue stripes.
Pastor Thompson hides his knees beneath a gown of white.
The gardener has two dirty knees from kneeling on the ground …
Tom next door, when he’s in shorts, the hairiest knees around!
Aunt Bertha’s knees are squishy — Nora sees them ‘neath her dress —
but Nora says for pinkest knees, her sister’s knees are best.
Her grandma’s knees are wrinkly, and so are Grandpa’s knees.
Though Nora’s taller than the dog, she’s sure his knees have fleas!
Little Nora Knee-High may be small as she can be,
but she’ll grow up and see the world the same as you and me.
Just for now, her view’s okay. “Be careful, Nora, please!
‘Cause life’s a little dangerous when all you see are knees!”
About the Poet
Pat Severin is a retired Christian teacher living in Wisconsin. Her poetic inspiration comes from her deep faith, her love of children and her analysis of people and the world around us. Besides Pure in Heart Stories, Pat’s been published in such Christian magazines as the Heart of Flesh, Agape Review, The Clay Jar Review, thewayback2ourselves, Words of the Lamb, Vessels of Light and Calla Press. She has also contributed to Chicken Soup for the Soul and two other books, as well. Pat’s personal ministry is weekly sending encouraging poems in her original cards to those going through difficult life struggles.
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