Tenderly Eight

Delicately bird-boned, all alone
on the forest path, her blonde 
hair hung dank with the torpor
of a late summer afternoon as
she ventured along, swinging arms
to defend her flesh from the
constant bombardment of stinging
pests. The small dog's unfriendly
greeting frightened her, but its
admonishing owners gave
comfort, as the child trotted
alongside in her skimpy summer 
frock, chattering unaffectedly
with the elderly pair and the dog
suddenly as trusted as her own
grandparents though strangers 
they were who soon were animatedly
advised of her name and age, 
school and grade, older siblings'
names and sport activities, and
that she had impulsively strolled 
into the woods behind her
grandparents' home to escape
the harshness of her parents' and
grandparents' adult discussion,
oblivious to her distressed presence.