My favorite two-year old,
– really, almost two-years old –
draws my attention
with her tentative smile
and clear blue eyes.
Abruptly
– without warning –
her open hand is inches from my face,
proving to my unfocused eyes,
her miniature hand
with its chubby fingers stretched so wide,
is indeed empty and free.
The suspense builds
as she uses her other hand
– her assistant, if you will –
to open her dress pocket wide;
wide as can be,
so she only has to close her fingers a little bit
to ease her hand into the depths of the material.
In a dramatic flurry of suspense,
– pulling and yanking with all her might –
she releases her hand from the pocket.
With a jerk of her head
– eyes and mouth round with surprise –
her trick is finished.
For, in her slowly opening child’s fist,
emerges a pink shell
– from a far away ocean;
in her eyes,
a reflection of the sweet world.