Izzy Ling Lee, Who Will You Be?

Izzy Ling Lee, Who will you be?

It was a day, not today, but the one just before, 
when Izzy Ling Lee found out what was in store.

*  *  *

She came from the playground with her spirits so high,
she'd just climbed a tree that reached far, far, far up in the sky.
Yes, her raven black hair was a bit of a mess,
tangled and tossed, looking just like a nest.

But she didn't mind looking a mess all of the time,
because spilling to her was no big crime.
Yes, she does at times look kind of wild,
but that's all in the line of being a sticky child.

OH, But the grin on her face was wiped clean as soon as she read...

*  *  *

PICTURE DAY TOMORROW. Yes, that's what it said.

Just then, Prissy LeBaron looked over to say,
"Don't worry about getting dressed up for the day,
because sticky and messy is your way!"

She didn't say it to mean, "You stink!"
but it definitely made Izzy sit up and think.

"This way? What way is that?"

*  *  *


At home that night she stood in front of the mirror alone.

"What am I now? Is it who I will be?
Maybe this picture should tell people more about me."

*  *  *

She tore through her closet throwing things all on the floor,
Sifting and sorting as if it were chore.
The ruckus she made was heard from far and wide, it seemed,
"What is that racket?" her mother screamed.
                                 
                                                stairs.
                                       the
                                  up
                   ran
             she
As

*  *  *

"Mother, I wanted to try something new,
something that will show all the things I can do.
I want to show in that one photo frame,
that what people see and what I am is not the same."

After a little bit of thinking and a lot of small sighs,
Her mother concocted a little surprise.

*  *  *

"Let's take some Polaroid shots and then we'll use them to check,
what version of you that you think is most correct!"

So she took out her camera and took some test flicks,

Chick
                   Chick
                                       A-Chick

Was the sound of the clicks.

*  *  *

Izzy put on a tutu and some fine powdered rouge,
being careful to put on just as much as her mother would use.
A little lipstick and shoes that were red, satin, and heeled,
from there a little princess was revealed!

Chick
                   Chick
                                       A-Chick went the clicks.

*  *  *

Then Izzy pulled on a tie and her father's red glasses,
a big black suit jacket worn by the business masses,
a matching black briefcase made her outfit complete,
and now she was ready to tackle any feat.

Chick
                   Chick
                                       A-Chick went the clicks.

*  *  *

She almost got stuck in her brother's space helmet,
and her snow boots made her feet sweaty and wet,
But one day she will be walking on the moon,
so she has to get used to sweaty feet soon.

Chick
                   Chick
                                       A-Chick went the clicks.

*  *  *

Her freshly cleaned baseball uniform looked much too bright,
but the numbers and stripes were still faded by sunlight.
You can still see the grass stain from the home run she hit,
and the rip in her shoulder from her powerful pitch.

Chick
                   Chick
                              A-Chick went the clicks.

*  *  *

One day she will travel the world and it will be hers to own,
A beret on her head, standing next to the telephone.
Because she's the kind to travel far but be close to loves at heart,
believing that even when you're distant you're not too far apart.

Chick
                   Chick
                                       A-Chick went the clicks.

*  *  *

Her mother stopped and said, "Let's look at the shots so you can see,
The different kinds of people you can choose to be!"

"Hmmmmmmmmm I don't know who I am!" she cried.
"It's hard to choose between everything I am inside!"
*  *  *

Her mother pointed at the princess,
                              the businessman,
                                  the astronaut,
                                    the ball player,
                                        and the traveler
                                             and said,
"Look at these pictures of these different people and things they do,
But remember that beneath the clothing they're all you.
So, my dear, who would you like to be?
It is your decision and for you to choose freely."

*  *  *

"I want to wear pink and be pretty and light,
but I can't be that when I'm on a space flight!
I am an explorer who wants to discover it all!
But I really like days where we just play ball.

These different people and these different things,
shouldn't tie me down, they should give me wings.
Mother, I know now which one I'll choose,
and with this choice, I know I can't lose."

*  *  *

"I think I'll be me because I can be anyone or anything I want to be."


(End with a picture of Izzy's class photo where she haphazardly combines different elements of her costume. She is grinning from ear to ear.)