schoolgirl

uniforms
the shirt, white striped grey
top button undone, loose tie
the thrill of exposed clavicle
nails pared short short
clear nail varnish and flouted rules
hair in buoyant ponytail
flip flick fly
gray a-line skirts swish
half an inch
above knees, above sleek bronzed legs
trim ankles shod
in neat white socks
artistically folded scrunched squeezed
the white white canvas shoes
that sense of possibility
and the pirouette and the twirl

and suddenly i remembered
how fabulous it was to be sixteen

would you?

Wasn't expecting what I got.
And I've forgotten what I'd thought.
But was it fair to press me so
Merely because you had to know?

And now it is I who will wonder
at changes of opinion

ells

happiness is
charades in canteens
compliments from teens
pirouettes and preens
daydreaming of kisses
coming home to roses
unexpected surprises
that's what it is

and i bite my lip
to keep from smiling
what did i ever do
to deserve so much?