Elemental

[Gyppo]

Elemental.

She arrived at my house,
jumping out of her skin,
grey eyes stormy,
aura flashing like a hazard light.

She burst through the door,
halfway up the hall in two strides,
then backtracked to remove her shoes.
Calm for just long enough to say,
"Sorry, I forgot.  Stupid school...
They made us stay in at playtime.
And it was hardly raining at all."

Her Mum, a few steps behind,
raised her eyebrows.
"It's okay," I said, bracing myself,
"We've all been there."

After fifteen minutes of cartwheels,
somersaults, dive-rolls, 
bouncing off my living room walls,
she calmed down enough for a drink.

Hyper-active is one thing,
but this was elemental.

If she ever learns the knack,
to turn it off and on at will,
she'll be a lucky girl.
We'll try to teach her.  But,
if she doesn't, life will be hard.

Gyppo

[Colm Roe]

A spirited granddaughter?
And yes, if only we could have focused those forces...all the wonderful things we could have achieved!

[Gyppo]

'Spirited' is her default setting.  Hyper-active is fairly common.  But that particular day was something else entirely.

It reminded me of occasional days in the medieval arena shows, where you suddenly realise you're up against someone who's not just acting but channelling their inner warrior

Gyppo

[Matty11]

Excellent G.

In a way it is sad when conformity does win, though a quieter life for parents and a safer one for the child.

best

Phil