Little Girl

Little girl,
5 years old,
Dancing and dressing up,
But ever so happy
To sit in her dad's lap
And listen to him read.

Little girl,
10 years old,
Fighting to be herself,
Already.
But still finding the time
To lose at chess.

Little girl,
Sixteen,
Who sits in her room
And nearly cries
After she makes a mistake
In a board game,
Because she disappointed her dad.

Little girl,
Eighteen,
Realizing her dad
Was always right.

Little girl,
Twenty one,
Wanting to go home,
Wanting to go back,
But at the same time,
Wanting to surge ahead
And make her daddy proud.

Little girl,
Fourty-nine,
Saying good bye.