5:07

Near the door

is the little ballerina,

the top of her tutu ripped,

standing in the middle of window glass,

her thumb in her mouth,

her hand bleeding a little.

 

 

Malia lifts her up,

looks around,

then reaches for my hand

and pulls Blankie

from my still-clenched fist.

 

 

She shakes it out

and wraps the ballerina

in a messy cocoon.