Regeneration

Isabel and I are drawing
in the dirt with a stone and a
stubby twig. First letters and then
round faces with little dot eyes.

She wipes out everything I draw
as soon as I finish. Each face
disappears the moment it’s born.
I’m annoyed a moment and then

I notice I’m getting better
at drawing tiny round faces.
Each one comes a little faster.
Each one looks a bit more alive.