It doesn’t matter who she is
Her name
Nor father that created this beautiful piece of art
What she’s saying
In all those seconds
Over all that time
Utterly inconsequential
What I study instead
Is her countenance alone
That face
Living, expressing, growing, changing
Yet persisting
And prevailing
As the baby girl
Expressing without words
No words to express
How she is every girl
Every baby grown up
Every stage
Each different
All the same
She is my daughter
My first daughter
My second
She is every girl
I’ve taught over the years
At some point talking
To me
Without me hearing
As
Her countenance alone
Captured me
Raptured me
Entitling me to see, just see
To appreciate
To love
Every stage
Of every girl
Each different
All the same.
A String of Pearls 
Apr 16, 2014 @ 21:45:38
It really is a beautiful piece isn’t it? I’m almost at a loss for words, it truly is inspiring.
Apr 16, 2014 @ 21:53:54
I tried, with poetry, but I don’t think I can really explain how I see every single little girl I’ve taught over the last 20-some years in this girl’s facial expressions. It’s eerie, magical, incredibly beautiful.
Apr 16, 2014 @ 22:06:41
I think you did well in widening the view of how this can represent so much more than one person. I say bravo, excellent expression of feelings and thought.
Apr 16, 2014 @ 22:23:25
Thank you, Clocktower. I was bad though. Wrote it in three minutes and posted it. Didn’t let it sit and brew, as I should have. I was just too emotional.
Apr 17, 2014 @ 05:25:37
No need to let this one brew, it’s exciting in its freshness!
The video portrait was very moving. I saw all the faces, all the moods, some days silent and sad. But always communicating something to the camera, always sharing herself. Thankyou for sharing it and your writing!
Apr 17, 2014 @ 07:18:30
You’re welcome. Agree that all the moods were there. You could tell that some days she was not at all into her dad videotaping her. Those are the same moods I have seen in my daughters over the years and my students, too. Sometimes they stand before me whining about something and I find myself just half-tuning them out and focusing instead on the series of expressions their faces offer up.
Apr 17, 2014 @ 07:04:49
Beautiful…capturing every joy and every even the quiet times.
Apr 17, 2014 @ 07:19:28
Right. I’m glad he included the ones when her eyes are cast down and when she clearly wasn’t in the mood to be videotaped at that moment.
Apr 17, 2014 @ 10:49:50
What a beautiful piece! Thank you so much for sharing. xx
Apr 17, 2014 @ 22:23:55
And thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate it.