I Know Her When

When the family pets lick

her stuck out tongue

When her face lights up

at the sound of my lullaby

When her father enters the room and

she squeals relentlessly, seemingly without breath

When she pulls her cloth diaper off and crawls

down the sandhill lake property

to the clear water’s edge

When her guttural laughter greets the world

from inside her crib

upon waking

When she waits

to embrace the world

When friends beg to hold her as she chortles

and squeals an invitation to be held

When smiling family and guests reach for her upon

seeing her pleading arms

The Great Spirit’s

Julia Kirsten

Fawn Rising