Cats and Dogs

In the pinking light of sunset
She held my hand
Told me to find shapes in the clouds
Then told me my shapes were wrong--
Everything was cats
Except when it was dogs--
    I figure she was right

I was just thinking
about my old life and
how fun it was.
When I was three I thought
getting older would make it easier.
But now I’m turning seven, and
things are hard.

I want you to sit next to me
when I ride my first roller coaster.

She’s serious in ways
That make it hard not to laugh

We lay in warm grass
Slapping at fire ants
Until stars overtake
Our cats and dogs–

She lets go my hand
Stands and declares it is time

Bolder in darkness than I ever was
She leads me home