the girl in the picture

She is gone.
That old body burnt up long ago
In a pyre of raw emotion and
Righteous indignation.

I see her then
With curves in all the right places
A coy, inviting smile
And long hair of the finest silk
I wonder why it looked so different in a mirror.

If I could

Go back
And tell her then

To Breathe—
To invest all-consuming importance
Only in herself—To savor the story Instead of racing ahead In search
Of the happily-ever-after—
I Am Great Mother now
With curves in all the places
Proud battle scarsAnd long hair of 25% polyester, 75% rayon blend
And I know why it looks much better in a mirror.
If I could Go back And tell her then
She would not have
The power I haveToday.

by amanda l. trancoso

Amanda L. Trancoso lives in Leicester with her heart-mate Josh, their year-old daughter Eden, and dog Achaiah. She is happily discovering her new voice since becoming a Mother. She welcomes any comments at AmandaTrancoso@yahoo.com