She’s asleep now.
Her long arms and legs
tangled among the covers
and hanging off of the bed.

She came to us,
a light brown child, so young
and tender. A baby, really.
A piece of clay, ready to be molded
into a family who loved her.

She was hungry. Hungry
for food and a better
life. The dark circles under
her eyes lessened in time.

She is grounded now.
Mature beyond her years,
knowing that she belongs
to God and she will follow
his plan.

The little brown child
that we carried up and down
the stairs and read stories to,
learned colors in
slow agonizing steps.

She is fourteen now.
A perfect year-round tan.
A spirit so sweet, we can
feel it shine through
this old house.

I picked her up and
swung her around.
took her skating and
swimming. We opened
her mind.

She tells us about science,
English and her good grades.
She watches out for me
when we cross the street,
and holds my hand. I look
up and see her beautiful
long body towering above me.