Oh she was in a fierce mood that little Nahla
with the pouf of hair! Tiny terrible tragic mood
nonetheless (one has to note) so admirably expressed.
So many objections strongly and most passionately voiced.
I don’t LIKE cookies!
I don’t LIKE that face!
I don’t LIKE bears!
So vehement so fervent and firm
no budge no waver no yield.
Tiny dramatic Theda Bara
of nursery school.
Elephants bumble through the jungle
of my sleepy brain elephants and polka dots
my two small nieces one a baby wrapped
up in stars her sister’s head a pouf of curl, eyes agaze.
When my boys were little
I liked to drift into the fancy lands
of books as I read to them
three warm bodies pressed
close as ever close
four blue and two brown eyes
intent on the colorful pictures
their own fierce imaginings
carrying them wherever they went
as the words marched forth.