11 Past 10
she still
loves to run
in the pouring down
rain
she still
cries crocodile tears
if she forgot
to kiss daddy bye
she still
feels sad sorry
for the worm
the ant
the half-wing thing
she still
wants to pick-up every stray
cat and dog she sees
and take ‘em home with her
and have me take care of ‘em
she still
won’t eat
a tomato
less it’s pulverized into oblivion
she still
puts her pulled tooth
under her pillow
and goes to sleep
smiling like a Cheshire cat
she still
plays the piano
for the pure joy
of it
like painting
and dancing
and flipping
on the trampoline
she still
sleeps with Blue
from those crib days
and protects him like a mama bear her cub
she still
has to be first
down the stair
through the door
up the hill
down the street
around the corner
through the gate
she still
hits a golf ball
better than me
or the guy next to me
she still
can do a double round-house kick
over my head
without stretching first
she still
feels the day
and takes it in
like a song
like a sonnet
like a prayer
she still
asks tough questions
when there aren’t any
easy answers
she still
gets lost
in a story
but only if
it’s really good
then she’ll re-read it
five times
she still
has expectations
“Great Expectations”
of how life should be
she still
loves school
and learning
and understanding
and becoming
and being
and making good friends
she still
thinks the same
joke
told 100 times over
is as funny as
the first time
she said it
she still
wants to be BIG
but stay small
she still
has to have
the last word
the last piece
the last laugh
the last shhh
she still
wants to be held
(thank goodness for that)
she still
has a dream …
about a secret garden
and a Tudor-style mansion
and a cheetah as a pet
(why a cheetah)
and me as her maid
and finding a home for all those strays
and helping the helpless
be happy
and I have no doubt
she’ll make it happen
somehow
and it’ll be better
way better
than what she dreamed of
when she was jest
11 past 10
TL