She's A Grown Woman Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

She's a grown woman.
And for me the believing of it,
Seemed to have happened...
As I kept her in my mind for a very long time,
A little girl taking her first steps to correct...
While her parents held their arms outstretched,
Trying to protect her balancing act...
From getting her bruised or scratched.
And with her wise eyes she looked up as if to say,
'Hey, don't worry. I got this.
I'm Ms Shayla Louise Dixon. And no one will forget it.'

She's a grown 'ass' woman.
She said that to me.
As if to snap me into reality.
And that is my niece, Ms Shayla Louise.
Direct, accountable, sensible and wise.
With two intelligent children she raises.
Who are growing up fast as well to 'my' surprise.

On August 21st 'this grown woman turned 37.
And although it was 1976 it seems as if yesterday,
She demanded her independence and left to run away.
To go and stay with one of her friends down the street...
Leaving us all to worry and fear.
Until she return back to her parents' home to request,
Her checkbook she had forgotten and a change of clothes.

And here I am, Uncle Larry, composing,
A poem to recount so many fond memories.
For my niece so vivacious and too incredible to believe...
She's 37. Not eleven. Thirteen. Twenty-one or thirty!
37! !

'Uncle Larry? I am a grown 'ass' woman.'

And I say to myself...
'WHY does she feel I have to be reminded of it? '

I know how old you are.
You're older than 'me' now.
God knows I was 35 for twenty years!
But you Ms Shayla?
Stay 37 for as long as you want, okay?
I wont be 'madatcha'.


Dedicated to my adorable niece:
Ms Shayla Louise Dixon.
On her 37th birthday.
We all celebrated on August 21st 2013.

'I love you, Precious.'

Uncle Larry