Turned 21 Today Poem by Margaret Alice Second

And so my little darling turned 21 today, a
laughing teasing slouching breezing Anime-
watching, nightly disappearing girl who orders
her brother and mother around and wraps her
dad around her little finger with pouting,
explaining and giggles and scheming -

And the house is full of her and her ever-
complaining cat, she refuses me entry into
her room and starts remonstrating the moment
I enter in all innocence - just to say hello and
try on her earrings or something innocuous -
but she chases me out and her dad is -

On her side, it's lovely to have a grown-up
daughter still so small she seems young and
waiflike; Dear Nici, you make life beautiful,
may you be with us at home for a LONG
time to come!

[12 September 2014]