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Poetry | February 2014

Preadolescence

By Kimberly Long Cockroft

Hidden at the window,
we spy on our daughter.
At the end of the driveway,
she sways from toe to heel,
tipping sunglasses down her nose
as a car whizzes past.
There is no sun except her,
and she shines awkwardly, tag still
on her sunglasses, specks of supper
clinging to her cheek.

When she sees us, her face
shows she is our child but someone else, too.
We hear a door shutting, and we know
we must wait for her steps,
listen for the slap of her new shoes.

2 replies on “Preadolescence”

Beth S.says:
February 21, 2014 at 5:35 am

Wow, this is beautiful! And I’m right there with you, on the opposite coast (Williamsburg, Va.) but witnessing and living through this strange transition, us with sons instead of daughters….such a learning curve, full of joys and also great challenges–like all of parenting, I guess! Great job……

Reply
Robin Neidhardsays:
March 4, 2014 at 6:25 pm

This poem! I pictured my own daughter in your words. It’s such a bittersweet feeling, witnessing the push and pull as they want to grow up, yet are still so unsure of the world. I loved this.

Reply

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