*

*

That little girl with fish-blue eyes

thumb in mouth, white-blond hair

sits on the parquet floor

beside her mother’s chair.

*

She touches her mother’s foot

with one nail-bitten finger

Her mother flaps a no-no hand

says, “Not now.  I’m on the phone.”

*

That little girl in a red plaid dress

sees her mother walk away

from the closed kindergarten door

The girl sobs and slumps to the floor

*

That little girl has nothing to say

when her mother asks about her day

The butterball teacher’s lap was where

that little girl sat until her tears ran out

*

That little girl wrapped up each word

inside her beating heart, hidden from

the mother who pressed too hard

Or not at all, but either way, not heard