BIG BROTHER Poem by Ester Naomi Perquin

No father or mother to get us down from the trees
for food or sleep, the most climbing-packed summer for years.

No ponytail for me, I tore dresses to shreds,
got my hair tangled in branches - you fetched
scissors and I became a soldier but
the sword was too heavy and I couldn't
lift the shield off the ground.

You shouted, urging me higher - so I climbed and climbed.
Warmth permeated the trees, deep into the night
you lay like an animal on the bottom branch.

No lions or murderers could come.
For a girl, on watch I had excellent sight.