Lily

Gone are your two front teeth.
Gone are your 5 rolls of chubby love.
Gone are your long flowing curls.
Gone are your morning tears of separation.

Here is working independently on homework.
Here is a long and lean body.
Here is an awareness of schedules and time.
Here is flitting into the school building without a look back.

Always will be your need to snuggle every chance you get.
Always will be a story at night and books on the bed.
Always will be a bowl of fruit as a snack.
Always will be unlimited giggles, giggles, giggles.

Never smooth
The divots and bumps without pattern
Shapes too small for her
Little pinches begin
Irrational snips

Eyes blinded by the bright sun
Her hand raises to the sky
It can't block the rays
They penetrate deeply

Stumbling, the barbed wire tears
Softness removed
A little less of her now
Bit by bit, taken away

Easily moldable
Now able to fit the form that was
never meant for her.

Thoughts in grief

Today is ok.
I am going to be ok.
This is not as bad as I thought.
I will keep myself busy.
I hope so-and-so doesn't call.
I hope so-and-so does call.
Only one winner.
Why didn't he say anything?
Who has forgotten her?
What was her smell?
Is she really gone?
Why can't I get anything done.
Why did I make an impossible task?
Why do I cry upon exhaling?
Why is there no laughter?
I want to laugh.
I don't want looks.
I don't want pity.
I want her.
Today is ok.
I am going to be ok.
Maybe.

Scraping and clawing at the dirt
She cultivates life's needs
Fingers nimbly work and are
dirty and moist.

Roots and twigs entangle
Jagged rocks cut and bruise
Black, thick mud fills
the time worn wrinkles of her hands.

She sits exhausted and consumed
The work more than she planned
Sweat beads on her brow
She sits back on her soiled knees.

Her face raises to the sun
Its warmth fills her
Her eyes close in response
the heat pouring over her face and body.

She leans back
arching her neck
She is satisfied.

She feels the coolness of the earth
between her toes and her eyes open
the work is always before her
Her hands dig deep, toiling once again.

Notes on a Snowy, Historic Day

Ecstatic one running into the room
Pounding, hurried footsteps
Requesting to not to wake the others
Noise from the others being woken to the news of snow fall
Begging for snow clothes stored in the hall closet
In and out the door
Doorbells ringing
Mud, ice and snow boot prints all over the floor
Cold hands that stung against warm skin
Red glowing cheeks
Piles of wet, dirty hats, scarves, boots and bibs
Requests for hot chocolate at 8:30 am
The acrid smell of vinegar on the floor
Two children splashing in the bath tub
Steaming, creamy tomato soup and cheese toast
Settling in to watch history
Remembering this moment and how it was marked
Tears
The melodious sounds of classical music and children basking in it
Answering a million questions about government, inaugurations, national security
Discussing life in the White House
Announcement of future presidential ambitions by one
A speech
A time of gathering clouds and raging storms
Indicators of crisis, nagging fear
Chose hope over fear, unity over discord
Celebrate the risk-takers, who have carried us to prosperity and freedom
We are ready to lead once more
Our patchwork heritage is our strength
New era of responsibility that we seize gladly
18:10 speech
Snow day returns
Piles of laundry
School projects to complete
One goes down for a rub and a nap
Refereeing the fights, the squabbles
Dinner to prepare
Hope continues