An Adolescent Girl in Love

Nothing else on earth is as innately intelligent

and ignorant at the same time

as an adolescent girl in love,

an even fifty percent basic instinct

and the rest a muddy muddle of raw genius.

Her mother should be able to understand,

having been there once herself.

Her father has no hope of understanding.

He thinks something has changed in her walk.

Her voice has dropped a fraction of an octave.

Her direct gaze at every living creature

says she knows some new thing,

and he is afraid he knows what it is.

Daffodils two days after they open

show absolutely no signs of wilting.