reminiscings of my niece

She's a girl rising from a shell, running to spring. It is her time. Watch her run with ribbons undone.

She's a rose in a lily's cloak. She can hide her charms. Is it her right? There will be time to chase the sun with ribbons undone.

She runs like a fire does, just picking up daises. Comes in for a landing - a pure flash of lightening. Past alice blue blossoms you follow her laughter & then she'll surprise you, arms filled with lavender.

Yes, my little pony is growing up fast. She corrects me and says "you mean a thoroughbred".

A look in her eye says the battle's beginning. From school she comes home and cries, "I don't want to grow up" - at least not tonight.

You're a girl rising from a shell, running through spring with summer's hand in reach. Just run with ribbons undone.

(T. Amos)

love this girl so much, the one i was scared would be scarred by her worldly introduction, & very well may have been, that i can't fathom what it would be like to love my own.