Age: 3 (4 or 5)
2-Running
When Mirian was upset over
some small, childish ill
she would take a deep breath
and run
just run everywhere
and she would run for hours across the plain
breathing in all the while
the sweet scent of Kayanoo grass
and the dew upon it.
when Mirian's skinny legs could
carry her no more she
would run home and
collapse, exhausted, under the
deep old Garibah tree
small blue hands clutching
at smooth brown bark
and she would fall asleep there
Mother would come and get her
and rouse her to go bathe
Look at you!
You're a mess!
It was true
Mirian's fur was tangled and
filled with prickly burs
at the stream Mother's anger would soften
and she would tenderly comb
her little daughter's fur
and pick out the burs
while, twitching,
Mirian waited
for a chance to steal away
time to play again
