Ten

She looks at sheets of paper
and sees airbourne stunt flyers

She looks at words on pages
and travels to fantastical worlds

She talks to my old Ted E Bear
and finds a loyal, lovable friend

Her questions range from the
mundane - - - - when are we eating?

To the funny - - - - if you were an animal, Mom, what kind would you be?

To the scientific - - - - why does vinegar smell like that?

To the unanswerable - - - - can we ALL go camping: you, me and dad?

Her face shows a glimpse of the woman she is
becoming
serene and beautiful and intelligent
beneath the long limbs that sometimes trip her up
and the forehead worried with
timetables
and essays
and the challenges of
friendships taking on new depth.

I want to hold her and keep her safe
from the World
of loss
and pain
and all that comes
with
being Ten.