tender, sweet, curious, wonder-soaked

love her and protect her

comfort her and care for her

and you will see

brilliance and intelligence and intuition and

so much life it will make your breath

catch in your throat and your jaw

drop

your heart ache

hands and feet must remain covered in dirt at all times

the ants your mother is fighting out of the house

must be fed bread on the window sill

the loose grout between the floor tiles will be excavated

millions of drawing and journals are to be filled

secret languages invented

story books will be rewritten and recolored

here is where the range and depth of

emotion and creativity are born

in the filthy knees and refusal to get off the beach before sunset

(and after lets be real)

in jumping in adult pools

and water fountains fully clothed (because water!)

in the first heart break of lost pet birds and

‘how can i best pretzel myself into being loved’ (you are love)

she’s a sponge who sees it all

understands more than you know (bullshit radar: on)

trying to sculpt this clay is a crime. the clay sculpts you

most precious

did you know that bees go through metamorphosis

like butterflies?

like moths?

die again

come back again