spindly rickety ballerina,

so lanky you’ll fall off yourself.

you sweet poem of uncoordination

a prayer for your mother,

your world is opening in sunlight.

new freedom as your legs learn to obey.

warmmilkmother nurtures

and everything is new,

everything is joy.

you lanky daffodil of springtime,

tremulous on skittering hooves.

new smells spark joy in flaring nostrils,

an adolescent gawkiness though you are but a newborn,

downy, boneycheeked wonderer,

a spasm of beauty passes through elongated limbs

as hooves skitter.

trusting in nuzzlewarmmilkmother,

a twitch of your feathertail

and everything is new

everything is joy.