How Many Gates?

"How many more?"
said the child,
socks around her ankles,
clutching her mother's
hand.

Small, little thing,
baby sweet,
one gate, two gates,
three, all
just too high to see over,
the world looks
big from down here.

School gate, Nanna's gate,
Auntie's gate,
neighbour's gate,
growly dog at a gate,
little one jumps
double her height,
now gripping Mother's
kindly hand.

"It's allright" she
said, "Just one more
and we're home."
Mother passes
the little one a
sweet on a stick,
comfort in the
dark valley of
fears.

"It's allright,
the doggy's gone" -
Sweet on a stick.
Little one, big
world, every day
an inch smarter -
new shoes soon.

The home gate swings
closed and the sun
sets in the west,
a golden,
kindly, watchful
ball of wise light.

copyright Monika Roleff 2005