*
*
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
Tangled Magic 