“I See Her”

I once saw her through the eyes of a child

settling unstable sandcastles with impenetrable forts

squawking frogs prolonging summers

in effervescence

I once saw her through the eyes of a girl

our phantoms handcuffed to empty lunch tables

spending the car rides home singing

in mutual grief

I once saw her through the eyes of a teenager

binding our diaries with stitches

fragile hearts we feverishly encased

in trepidation

I once saw her through the eyes of a young adult

whose naivety was as potent as hope

scraping by on artificial compassion

in desperation

I now see her through the eyes of a woman

with resilience as decadent as raspberry sorbet

as we crawl towards ambrosia

we can only unearth

within ourselves