pedicure

her hands move

with tiny intensity,

fingers tensed.

do you remember

being a little girl

pretending to be

a big girl,

carefully explaining

with exaggerated

thoughtfulness

your grown-up

intention?

she folds the

paper towel

deliberately,

with the care

one might afford

fine linens

she paints each nail

dramatically,

attention fixed

as though this

is the most

important moment

as if this task

was worth a

lifetime of

preparation

as if my toes

were a treasure,

her work of art.