Not Yet Broken


there was a time, how long ago, how long ago

I wore a white summer dress, dotted swiss

and a necklace with one small pearl pendant

a daisy chain crowned my long, copper hair

nails painted a pale pink, no lipstick, blusher

no stockings over my tanned legs, barefooted

when no one was looking, white low heel shoes

left on the creek-bank, I cautiously waded into

muddy, cold water, Mama warned me to avoid

barefooted, tender-footed, young and foolish

bare-hearted, ripe for the summer harvest

curves blossoming, imagination searching

foolish little girl anxious to become a woman

would that I had worn burlap and covered

long legs with tights and fair face with veils

better to have died young and never known

the wonders and abuses of wasted womanhood

there was a time, how long ago, how long ago

when laughter flowed spontaneously from lips

that had never been kissed and hope overflowed

from a naive heart that had not yet been broken