25 Years Ago, at Dawn

In the front garden she sees a Crocus
And a Daffodil particularly pink and yellow
the early birds as usual vivacious
Out in the 6 a.m. April sunshine
By the three flags next to the drop off
Country, state, and county-
just a school day.

She has short hair and holes in her jeans;
Daily reads chemistry books
And knows by heart the periodic table
Studies every day to refresh
Her knowledge of the “mole”
Understands proportionality constants
Tries a bit - not too hard - to fit in.