Ah bah cah

After sweltering through the usual housework

it's almost relaxing
(almost)
to go through the sounds of the alphabet together
(almost reading! whee!)

but damn it's hard to fake enthusiasm
for those damned
phonics

again.

Somewhere in the back of my head I thought you'd absorb
this too, like
you've picked up on almost everything else your big brother does.

More fool me.

Ah?
Bah?
Cah?

This is a little like potty training.

And a lot like hell.

It's really November?

There are few things

Sunnier

than a gorgeous, open-blue sky day

and a small person running
to find

the last leaves
creaking on the trees.

(mittens fly in abandon)

blueprint of a girl

SHE'S:
stubborn
given to imperialism
has no compunctions about taking the last piece of - whatever - left
irritating
a bit of a madam (look at my bows! my rings! watch me!)
impatient

cosy
twines her arms around my neck for hugs
and

beautiful.