i remember the day.
the beaming sunlight,
matching the gleam in my sepia eyes.
the blooming ruby flowers,
paired with the red of my play doh cheeks.
and the wooden playhouse in front of me,
painted with colors brighter than the rainbow.


my brother babbled beside me,
under the shade of a hickory
gnawing on a tiger orange rattle.
he was younger than me, but
twinkling in the satiny sunlight,
the same baby toothed grin spread.

my family circled around me,
after working oh-so hard
on this timber dream of mine.
they awaited my reaction,
heartwarming childish euphoria
the only payment they needed.

i remember the moment
my gaze landed on the tower:
the canary swings, the olive slide, the mahogany ladder.
its ligneous edges were already home to ladybugs
and its shelved window cut outs donned with greenery.
it may have been a bit clunky
and off center and unbalanced,
but to a three year old girl,
it was better than any barbie, bratz, or monster high.
it was a castle,
and it was mine.