Jade Delayed.
She cries and pulls away and
I resist the urge to call her
back deciding scissors
work better than a brush frustrated that
girls are not always girly not that it
matters today but couldn’t she just sit still
Just once
And she reminds me of stories I’ve told
Hair washing once a week and running
from my own mother no time for
anything but now now now! and frogs
will hop away if I’m not quick and leaves
turn gold and crimson much too fast and hours
lead only to darkness and baths and bedtime
Rosie wags her tail and yips beckoning
her soulmate backing
towards the door ready
for one last romp in the yard
before the snow replaces cool grass
one more bike ride one more
wander through the woods
and I let her go off to find
the things I missed
—the things I miss
©Sugah (jlk)