Her pigtails sway to and fro 
as she pumps her chubby little legs 
trying to get higher on the swing. 
Watch how she moves to and fro 
to get higher and higher, 
her cute button face 
grim with determination. 
Her hands holding tightly 
onto the chain. 
She is almost there, 
higher and higher. 
She goes to and fro 
pumping madly. 
She made it. 
She is as high 
as the swing can go. 
She looks around for her mom, 
but no one is there except me 
... a stranger to her. 
Her little face falls, 
her legs stop moving, 
and the swing slows down 
and then stops; 
but she doesn’t get off 
she just sits there 
until her mom shows up 
in a hurry saying, 
"It is time to go, honey, I have to go to work. 
What did you do at the park today?" 
and the little girl mumbles, 
"nothing, mommy".



©  Cristy O'Malley
(aka Crazzzy)