consternation

sits at the table
feet swinging below their perch
hand grips crayon
determination radiates outward
tiny face scrunched
in adorable consternation
at the lines
to be colored within

the attempt
at conformity
soon abandoned
for raucous
wild scribble

so the tone set
for a life to come

I see it all
in a faded
photograph
of a you
i never knew

but have always
always known