POEM #20- BYGONES

"Pa's Lament"

And so her ma dresses her up
all pretty-like
in that sunsuit
and ruffled bonnet
and sets her down
in front of me,
"Ain't she pretty, Pa
take her picture!"

And of course
i smile
and put the camera
to my eye
and try to capture
that cowlick
the stubborn smile
and those dimpled knees

all the while
thinking about
sun-parched crops
economic downturn
unsavory neighbors
and world wars

wondering how
her pa can
possibly protect
all that sweetness
from  the world's
hard.

(C) Carol Wilcox, 2016