Sunshine’s Laugh

(For Princess So Fabulous)

When my niece was four,

I learned that sunshine had

a laugh all its own

as she smiled rainbows,

and peppermint kisses

left smudges of stolen lipstick

on my cheek.

And I found a love so big

my heart couldn’t hold it all

so we made crazy-cool collage lives

where we could stretch out

and wax philosophical

about why she couldn’t see God

but He could see her

which her four-year old mind

pronounced not quite fair

but…since He created everything,

she thought it ‘might’ be okay.

I am an elder in her village,

wise…warm…welcome…

and as we grow into the family

we were meant to be,

I learn to laugh sunshine too,

lavender-vanilla scented bubbles

that float out into the world

announcing her arrival

as the world stretches itself open for her.

copyright 2005 - Jackie Young

..· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-

¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) Jackie Young -:¦:-

((¸¸.·´ ..·´ …the original “WRITE-OR-DIE” Chick…

-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* If you can’t be the poet, be the poem!

This is actually one of the few pieces I’ve written that my niece can read. (She reminds me CONSTANTLY that she’d like to have something written by me that she can read before she’s 18.) As you can tell, it was written specifically for her about two years ago. It seemed to be a fitting piece to share after having spent the weekend with her, my niece M (1.5 yrs old) and my nephew K (3) along with an assortment of other kids in my brother’s neighborhood. Being the cool aunt that I am, the kids and I played a little t-ball in the backyard and then I played art critic as they spent some time drawing and coloring. *Sigh* The work of a favorite aunt is never done. All in all, it was a good day. Even though my niece/nephew are in the area, I don’t see them much so generally when I do, we have to go through that whole warm-up period. Didn’t happen this weekend. They hung out with friends of their father’s Friday and when they were dropped off at Bro#4’s house, they were cranky. K stood in the floor and just cried, not loudly but still crying; M cried like she was in pain. I scooped him up, sang a few lullabys to him, and he went to sleep shortly after that. I’m sure they’re both a little unsettled as far as things go with their parents. But…that’s a story for another day…and a private post. Be well!

Um…Big Daddy? How come I’m in your neck of the woods and I haven’t seen or heard from you?? You know folks been talking ’bout chu real bad. I tried to stop them but I was powerless against that mob. Oh well, I “guess” we’ll see you at the 4th of July gathering, right? *smh*