She’s learning to grow without sunlight or rain

Sunflower eyes

that fall in on themselves,

not quite wilting,

but crumpled

by the wait of knowledge.

Far from the world being foreign

to her, far from a virgin

of this earth.

They congratulate her

for her optimism,

for her outlook on life,

but she's anything but naïve.

She's no longer some child

you can deceive.

She's stronger than ever,

a warrior

with light in her eyes

and time on her shoulders.