Years ago when my youngest daughter was around four or five, a friend took this picture of her one day while we were out at the barn. Not long afterwards, I wrote a poem to remind myself to enjoy my children while they're young because they don't stay that way for long. Today my husband texted this picture to me out of the blue, and I thought, how indeed the time has flown. Our little girl, our baby, has grown into a beautiful, smart and capable young lady of thirteen. I can't wait to see where she goes from here, but as excited as I am for the future, I mourn a bit for the past. #ThrowbackThursday #CarpeDiem
The Lilac Cowgirl

Young were the years
When The Lilac Cowgirl
Came out to play.
Flaming red boots
Danced and capered across
The verdant way.
Guileless and free
Her love poured upon me
Limitlessly.
But I, immersed
In worldly game and gain
Failed to notice
When innocence
Lapsed and maturity
Within her reigned.
Therefore when my
Worldly pursuits waned, I
Perceived too late,
When The Lilac Cowgirl
Came out to play.
Flaming red boots
Danced and capered across
The verdant way.
Guileless and free
Her love poured upon me
Limitlessly.
But I, immersed
In worldly game and gain
Failed to notice
When innocence
Lapsed and maturity
Within her reigned.
Therefore when my
Worldly pursuits waned, I
Perceived too late,

Gone were the years
When The Lilac Cowgirl
Would come out to play.
© Ruby Merritt 2015
When The Lilac Cowgirl
Would come out to play.
© Ruby Merritt 2015