Grandpa's Lament

Where is that little girl I used to know?
The one that cried,
and gurgled,
and laughed,
and fell asleep on my shoulder.
Where is that little girl
with the loose front teeth,
the kindergarten drawings,
the hugs,
and the kisses,
so spontaneously given?
Where is that little girl
that was so excited when she turned thirteen,
that talked incessantly on the telephone,
that almost died
when the highschool quarterback
asked her to the senior prom?
Where is that little girl,
grown up now,
with children of her own?
The one that just yesterday
used to cry,
and gurgle,
and fall asleep on my shoulder.
Where is she…?
Where in the hell is she,
her kids want to go home,
and I want to go to bed!

W. James Beard, Jr.