Sticky, pale fingers

Black hair a mess

Limbs of no descernable length 

Tangled around a fence

Mirthful laughter

Reddened cheeks

Sneaking the fruits

Behind the shed

If the neighbors were to catch you

You'd be dead!

Teasing from the cousins

For stained pomegranate lips

Growing up quiet now

Afraid of their quips

Sticky, pale fingers

Black hair in dark eyes

Glasses covering no real prize

Books in hand, books to hide away

From the heat of yet another hot Southern day

Taunting laughter

Reddened cheeks

Behind the page

God, I bet it's boring having

A sister so lame!

Rough, pale fingers

Black hair tied high

Walking and working with the sun in the sky

A mile each way

In one hundred degrees

So lonely with no furniture, no friends to go see

Waiting for them all to come home to me

Booming laughter

Reddened cheeks

Working with children is a difficult feat

So thankful for the ability 

To help and to teach!

Strong, pale fingers

Black hair pulled back

Showing dark eyes that sparkle 

And a smile that once lacked

Any sense of self-confidence

Now formed by little ones

Who are not afraid of

Uncontrollable laughter

Reddened cheeks

Sticky, little fingers 

That like to sneak

Fruit behind the playground

As if I can't see!