Little Girl Early

Little girl early on the bus

Folded up in your mama’s lap

You are sneakers,

And colt legs, long brown hair

Freckled nose and, oh, don’t forget

Those sunglasses—sky blue today.

You are elbows tucked

Into the space between your knees

And shadow of puple fleece coat

You are nodding head early

Against your mama’s chest

You are sunlight falling on your face

Denim and lace settled deeply

Into the early bounce and sway.

The bus holds its breath

Until the next stop.

Just as you dream, it sighs “wake up!”