adornments

my daughter has a flair
for accessorizing
me;
a clean cotton sweatshirt?
a dressy dress?
“no! no! no! no!”
says the toddler designer
fussily.
i am a fashion disaster until
she leaves her mark.

first it was breastmilk
and spitup,
then formula,
applesauce,
cracker crumbs,
birthday cake.

then came phase II of her
evolving style:
stickers,
pencilmarks,
dirtprints,
a snagged thread,
a plastic firefighter’s hat.

i miss walking around in the world,
tidy. and yet,
it’s the look i’ve always wanted!
i think she is marking me as
her own signature creation,
and perhaps they are not so much
adornments as
adore-ments.