Ghost Girl

Missing Zepplin

I knew a little girl once
Whose newborn weight I held settled in the crook of my elbow, moments after her arrival
Warm and lightweight, like a whisper
And whose face I kissed fresh from the womb
As I breathed vows into her little ear, meant just for her and I to hear

I knew a little girl once
Who loved sprinkles on strawberry-iced donuts
She splashed in puddles like it was her sole purpose on this Earth
And always lost her left shoe, like a modern-day Disney princess

I knew a little girl once
Who hated cinnamon and broccoli
Who didn't believe in rules or closed doors
Who walked through the world like she owned it
In spite of not being Earthside long

I knew a little girl once
Who had a love-hate relationship with being tickled
Who begged for "just one more" bedtime story until both of our eyes were heavy
A little girl who thought couches doubled as trampolines
And couldn't take no for an answer

I knew a little girl once
whose growth I measured through the weight of her body
And how it nestled into the curve of my arms
A little girl who loved nature and sunshine like they were woven within her
And whose soul shone vividly from the eyes she inherited from her mother

That little girl is a ghost now
Not dead, but gone just the same
But she's safe in my heart and can't be taken from me
Because my memories whisper her name