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