Bouncing brown curls,
she runs across the grass
peeling laughter floats across the air
her freckles especially bright in the sun

The little girl runs her fingers over her dress
it has pretty yellow flowers,
she thinks it looks like the bells at church
ding, ding, she smiles big and giggles again

The neighbor girl calls her name
and she runs over on the balls of her feet
a ballerina run
her feet hitting the grass

"Tu veux jouer a la marelle?"
okay, she says smiling, curls bouncing
They draw the squares and toss the rock
the little girl thinks hopscotch is fun

Her mother calls her in
the girl runs back, a ballerina run
"Mama!" she sings
always, the little girl is happy