What a Pretty Little Girl
What a pretty little girl, can I touch her
hair? Pinch her cheeks? Kiss her head?
Can I hold her? Kiss her tummy?
Make her laugh?
Fingers tickle.
it never ends
In the bathroom stall. On the playground.
In the yard. The water park. Behind the slide.
Fingers fiddle.
less polite
In the pool, held under water, as grown-ups talk
stopped on a walk, say hello; swooped on his lap
leg pushed & pressed on something hard as they chat.
But when momma asks, has anyone touched you
there? Trapped in momma’s stare
the pretty little girl is confused because every time
she was there.
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