With soft brown eyes, auburn hair
\nbraided to his waist,
\nthe classical guitarist smiles from the stage,
\nhis nimble fingers plucking taut strings.
\nI imagine he is beaming at me,
\nsending that I-see-you\u2013invitation my way,
\nthe one that says, Meet me after the performance,
\nlet me play a special song for you.<\/p>\n
Without warning, I am fourteen again
\non the deck of a fishing boat with my parents.
\nSquared sailor hat on my head, braces on my teeth,
\nI grin at the handsome first mate,
\ncurly blond-haired siren with clear blue eyes.
\nOne kind comment from him and the fantasy begins\u2014
\nmaybe he will ask me out, maybe a dance
\nor a kiss out on the bow of the boat.<\/p>\n
Fourteen or sixty-four, it takes one smile
\nfor pimples or braces, wrinkles or bifocals
\nto disappear and fancy to come alive.
\nIn an instant, I am Rapunzel
\nwaiting to let down my hair.
\nI am Cinderella sliding my slender foot
\ninto the crystal slipper.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With soft brown eyes, auburn hair braided to his waist, the classical guitarist smiles from the stage, his nimble fingers plucking taut strings. I imagine he is beaming at me, sending that I-see-you\u2013invitation my way, the one that says, Meet me after the performance, let me play a special song for you. Without warning, I … <\/p>\n