Looking Back

(image from Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/en/rain-window-raindrop-glass-wet-2735644/)

I thought the girl was looking out,
Past the curtains, garden, fence -
Along the street to the playground
And the beach, in the distance.

Her hand against the window,
The raindrops chasing down,
Her wistful face suggesting
The beginnings of a frown.

"I don't need boots," she pouted
"I'll only get them wet
I'd like to take my spade outside
and dig into the dirt.

"There's snails out on the path;
I'm going to pick them up.
They can be a little family
In my Easter Bunny cup."

She dug into the garden
With bare toes as well as spade
A bed of mud and leaves
In her bunny cup, she made

Only later did I realise
I wasn't looking out, but in
Past the curtains – past the window
To the garden where I began.

To a time when snails made families
As I picked them up
Not on the silver beet
But in an Easter bunny cup.