Six

rolling in the grass
the sun on my face
turning my skin a creamy
warm tan
years before it learned to burn
and my hair
brown all year in school
was a bright auburn in summer
the year my teeth were too big
for my mouth
so I grew it
and filled it with noise
the year I learned
volume can drown out fear
make no one see it
when they turn away from you
call you too excitable
too much
"enough already"

Six
when I fell in love with Gilbert Blythe
and was still afraid
of the Chariots of Fire theme song

Six

30 years ago
and another.

I didn't protect you.

I'm sorry.