fourteen.
not long after your first birthday
your beautiful little curls first appeared –
scattered throughout your fine soft locks
which you’ve inherited from me.
and since then they have become
your little unique and distinguishing feature;
they have been held so sacred to yourself –
as the part that makes you special
and your private inner source of strength.
only once have they been cut too short
and in that instant I knew
it wasn’t right. It wasn’t you.
so we have let your hair grow
(somewhat) wild with your spirit.
and now when I see they are
relaxing as you get older
and I only see a few more
soft little spiralling curls
gently framing your face,
I take comfort in knowing
that you have found
that great strength and uniqueness
and what makes you special
inside your heart and not in those
little gorgeous whisps of hair.