Guileless


Lazy blond curls
Lay wet and knotty
Around her button face
The breeze lifts the few dry strands
To dance about her crown
Lids heavy
Airy lashes whisper kiss the skin
Eyes sealed from the sun
That cracks the arid bed
A tiny hand waits palm up
For the touch of velvet plush

Soft cloth rabbit dressed in dungarees
Waits beneath her barefoot
Wishing for her touch
But she sleeps
She sleeps
Undisturbed by the fly
That hops toward her mouth
And slips into her parted lips

Puzzled she tilts her head
In awe of the fly
But stands without hesitation
Holding tight a hand
Unwavering
He’s come to wait
The guardian bends to lift her
In his arms
~ It won’t be long now ~

She looks eagerly into his eyes
~ Will they find me very soon? ~

~ Yes, very soon ~

With sadness
Too heavy to carry
She drops her head to shoulder
And regards
Curiously an empty hand
Dust building between frozen fingers
She searches to find
Rabbit’s ear flapping occasionally
She sighs
A guileless sigh
Unable to embrace the obvious question
So she asks
~ Will they miss me? ~


jeanne rené 5/04