Salt Dough

find the recipe
pull out the ingredients
measure carefully
throw them into the bowl
pour in the water
now comes the fun
fingers as mixers
squish and blend
knead and push

forming a beautiful ball of dough

plop
one in front of each child
watch their eyes
even if their lips say nothing
watch their eyes
wide as saucers

at first
fingers touch
hesitantly
not liking to press the norm
drilled about clean hands
sticky dough
clinging to tiny fingers

shape
mold
create
something funny
something beautiful
something unique
one of a kind

so hard to leave it be
to let it dry
to make it immortal

mistakes erased
blended back into the dough
crushed
to begin again

a lasting piece
of imagination
in globby form