She Plays

A house made of blocks.

Here’s the living room, eating room, sleeping room.

A chair in here holds a cow and a

triceratops.

All is hushed,

          friendly,

          gentle.

Dinosaurs rub shoulders with massive coiled snakes and farm animals,

bigger than they are.

Soft words tell them their story.

A giant purple wooden TV

precariously balanced.

All the animals facing it

Silent

Expectant.

Her face brimful of joy,

Shining a yellow light

over her pretend world.

Innocence.

Her quiet smile: childhood

wrapped in a curve.

Get up.

Little legs

run.

Dragging a toy dog

by the ear.

The animals sit

silent,

waiting for the next

story.