she came here
a couple of times.
once, when she was still young
and full of love.
and we locked arms and took giant steps
as a game.
i always took my girls
to coffee–
even when they were young
how best a grand mother
to teach refinement,
sociability.
i have long been gone
from around her
her ravaging years of puberty
her adoption of ideals of an alien tribe.
I don’t know her now;
hauntingly beautiful
she plays in pictures
and displays a knowledge
of saucy poses.
she is of me–
i will never let that go…
she is one of mine
tainted by crossed ideals
and the people who promote them.
but i remember holding her
newly born,
connected to me
in a blood-bound way, mine…
but free to choose
her life, her people,
her loves.
Linda Tauhid
©5/13/17
