Conversations with Z

I don’t want to grow up she said to me
I don’t want to grow up she said when she was barely three
I just want to be your little girl forever
And I don’t like to paint my nails or wear lipstick
I don’t like to brush my hair and make up makes me sick
Oh I just want to be your little girl forever
And she went dancing through the room
And singing through the halls
And she was mine
Will you make it to the school with your lunch and mine
I’m afraid that you’ll forget and you won’t make it on time
And I will have to buy that gross hot lunch again
And I don’t like it when you yell at me that way
I don’t like it when you call me all those silly names
And tell me I’m a crazy girl using half my brain
And she went kicking through the room
And screaming through the halls
And she was mine
And then she danced right through the room
And sang right through the halls
And she was mine
Wake up Mom I had another scary dream tonight
Can I climb up in your bed instead of mine
Just like I used to do when I was barely three
So in the crook of my arm I can feel her red hair
Underneath my nose and I can smell the fire burning there
And know that she won’t be my little girl forever
But for now she presses into me
And breathes a sigh of deep relief
And we both know we’re chasing time
As she kicks me in the ribs and tosses over me
And she is mine
Well she goes dancing through the room
And singing through the halls
And she is mine, oh she’s always mine
She will dance into your heart and sing into you life
But she’ll be mine
I don’t want to grow up she said to me