Big girl, I don’t know where
Your friend goes to daycare now,
But I can see you miss her
By the pause in your frolic,
Even though you have no sense
Of the bigness of “Never,” and
Maybe just hope she’ll
Be back tomorrow—
So I’ll smile now, and maybe
Linger for a second over dinner,
And tonight, when you’re sleeping
On your princess pillow,
My eyes will glaze over a little—
For all the people
I just barely knew, the first
Little girl to laugh when
I peeked around the corner,
The doctor with a beard who
Stopped by on his rotation
To ask what else we needed,
The gas station cashier who
Learned my name and worked
Her last shift the next day—
And for her, the name
You still remember, one of
The gentle cruelties of
Time glancing back and
Walking away.
–
Jesse Miksic is a graphic designer and writer who lives in Peekskill, New York. He spends his life scribbling, writing poetry, and having adventures with his wonderful wife and daughter. His literary and intellectual endeavors can be tracked on Twitter and Instagram (@miksimum).