The Toy the Other Child has _ a poem by Yuri Kageyama


The Toy the Other Child is playing with, that’s the Toy he wants

Not that there aren’t a lot of other Toys

It has to be that one, no other,

The one the Other Child has

___

When the Other Child picks up another Toy, he drops the one in his hand

Not that there aren’t a lot of other Toys

That’s not the point, which is

The one the Other Child has

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It goes around and around, reaching for what the Other Child picks

Not that there aren’t a lot of other Toys

It’s the Other Child’s having that makes him want,

Snatching what the Other Child has

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The Other Child says: I’m going into my own room and shutting the door

There are so many Toys all over the world

As long as there’s a creative mind, a loving heart

I don’t need anyone else’s anything

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It’s said the Other Child grew up to be a happy adult, and his children

Played with, oh, so many Toys

The one who kept taking the Toys shriveled up in a ball of hate

And died of empty envy.