THE LITTLE GIRL 

                I saw a girl outside today while she was jumping rope

            With tangled hair and skinned up knees,, no buttons on her coat.

            She sang in rhyme and skipped a beat to slapping 

                       on the ground..

            And counted as she played the game, abandoned that, then

                      found a swing. 

   

              She pumped herself into the clouds, still singing silly songs.

            I knew each word before she spoke, the lyrics loud and strong.

            I took the path she walked to school, now overgrown and small.

            The curves and hills, the rambling creek, no distance here at all.

              I strolled along her daily route and found beneath some trees,

            The tiny house where she had grown, a scared place 

                           the girl called home.

             A sagging porch with crumbling steps, through dirty window glass,

            I held my breath and peered inside, a restful peace at last.

            I heard the sound of laughter and felt a swell of love.

            With eyes yet closed, I held her tight.   

            The little girl was...me.