We All Knew A Gabby

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We all knew a Gabby


She was the toddler in a passing stroller

Whose smile  

Made you feel loved

On an unnavigatable day.


She was the girl in daycare

That every fingerpainting boy

Wanted to sit next to.


She was the girl in kindergarten

Whose instinict was to hug

A suddenly homesick neighbor

When it all became too much


She was the girl who was scared of thunder

And sobbed when anyone was lost in a cartoon.


She was the one that the dog always waited for

Like a statue In the driveway 


She was Mary in the Christmas play

Elsa on Halloween

A dancing sunflower in the Easter pageant

A birthday princess delighted by her Dora the Explorer cake

The girl with the pretty face

Who sang the solo when the class sang Imagine.


She was the crush of an endless tide

Of lovestruck boys and girls.

The girl whose hair seemed to be weaved out

Of gold

The girl who seemed to glide while others

Stumbled


She was everyone’s cheerleader in high school

The one who seemed destined to become the Queen

Of the prom.

The one who was always up for the next

Freespirited adventure

Who hated limits and

Daydreamed 

About getting married barefoot

In a gown made of Queen Anne lace and

Having bushels of babies

Who she could comfort

And protect.

Because that was what mommies and daddies do.


And she was the blue eyed girl 

who trusted way too much

And always picked the one boy who would most likely

Hurt her 

Until she cried out

In disbelief,


“Why do you have to be so mean?”

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