Nature Girl

Nature Girl

for Caroline Grace, June 2008, Age 5

Arms swinging, down by the creek,

muddy flip-flops flapping,

ponytail unraveling, she's

lifting stones,

shallow splashing,

rock hopping, eyes shining.

Palmfuls of treasure mount--

a feather, a broken tile,

a crayfish claw, a freshwater shell,

dragonfly wings, tiny pebbles;

a bleeding heart she packages

in a folded maple leaf.

Tale telling and honeysuckle smelling

down by the creek

where it seems

trees rise higher,

green is brighter,

and the air around her vibrates

with joy.

Copyright 2010, Elizabeth May