Five-year-old girl

on a summer day

in her princess dress

tastes the alphabet

sings twinkling wishes

sees the world's impeccability

smiles at her million tomorrows

builds on her few yesterdays

smells dandelions and smiles

snaps a stick and smiles 

Slaps her Brother and smiles

she is just teasing

He smiles too and does it back

softly

like she is the dandelion

she dances with barbie

feels the wind

and Remembers it

sees friends in stuffed animals and has

the ability to believe they are alive

grass colors her leggings 

as she learns

This Twenty-four-year-old girl

sees bags of wrinkles below her eyelids

tastes air stale with arguement

snaps a spoon and has 

the ability to believe that she is in control

he slaps her

(he is not teasing) 

and she smiles.