I have this little girl

Unlike her younger sister
who stormed straight into my heart like a buffalo
she has quietly been nestling there
since she was born


She looked up at me
with huge deep eyes
black doe long eye lashes
she took her time getting to know me
and watched me cautiously

She has become a little girl of five
with those same intense eyes
she follows dogs in the veld
she conquers trains and planes and all changes
holding her strength closely
baking, drawing
pretending
believing in so much more than we see
the older child
the custodian of all our hearts