Teehee

A girl plays with a pencil unnoticed in Starbucks

Soon we will disappear
under bouncing blonde curls
and two-year-old speech patterns;
under attention lavished by everyone
except who can tell her off.

Soon we will disappear
through cute-as-a-button coughs
and tinkling pink cardigan tassles
or because chocolate is spread
all over our faces too.

Soon we will disappear
because her mum will be
telling her off in three languages
and trying to snatch the pencil
from the tiniest hand here.

Soon we will disappear
as the careful outlines of spots
on signs become frantic black
swirls and we are all
scribbled out in a passionate rebuff.