measuring stick

i prodded his brain with my ruler
he must have loved it
his laughter was so giddy
i slapped his hands with my ruler
he must not have noticed
he didn't even look up
i barred his eyes with my ruler
he thought he'd done something wrong
but i just wanted to surprise him
i conducted his singing with my ruler
he must have practiced a lot
i was just waving it absent-mindedly
i measured his legs with my ruler
he must have known
i just wanted to see if he'd run in long strides
i twirled him on the dance floor
he actually asked for what he wanted
instead of waiting for my ruler
i burned my ruler before his eyes
he must have loved me
for he endured that horrid ruler
until the very moment it was gone.