Irish Girl from St. Anne’s School, Rathangan

I finally tackled the image assignment for my poetry class. Inspired by the pictures from Ireland, this is what I wrote:

Irish Girl from St. Anne’s School, Rathangan

She gazes at the camera
Bold, confident and direct.
Her piercing dark eyes
Look straight through me.

Her eyes speak of intelligence, warmth,
Maturity and wisdom
Far beyond her 6 years.
Her gaze communicates a grace and strength
Uncommon in one so young.

Her mother must have pulled her dark hair back
And wrapped it tightly in plaits,
Catching most of the stray hairs in barrettes.
She must have tied daughter’s blue striped tie
And gently tucked it under her collar and into her sweater
Ready for her day at school.
No unbuttoned Peter Pan collars for her!
She is ready to take on the day
With a no-nonsense approach.

With just a hint of amusement
hiding in the corner of her mouth,
She seems ready to take on the world
With all its complexities.
What is the story behind those deep, dark mischievous eyes?
Windows to the world, but also to herself.