Puzzle Princess

Manipulating painted wooden pieces,
sometimes she gets it right
the first time, most times not.
Too young for frown lines,
forehead puckers when she knows
where it should go but cannot
make it fit. She welcomes help, still
young enough, and smart enough,
that it's not viewed
as crass affront to growing
independence.
Week to week, it shows itself
a little more, peeks 'round the baby's
mask she wears so I'll remember
she gets overwhelmed when bigger
kids come close. Some day
she'll lose the memory
of Sundays playing on the floor
with silly woman who has learned
to calm her tears when mother's
walking out the door.


(c) Ellen Gillette, 2013