first she waxed ten

there once was a child

went backward in time.

first she waxed ten,

then came to nine.

I saw her then,

at her age of just nine:

she looked awful,

an’ I, blurting, said,

from the mouth at the front

of my head,

“What’s happened to you?

you look terrible for nine,

in my view,

I opine.

sorry to malign,

but that’s not a a good sign.

I distinctly do remember—

at the back of my mind

while I peel this fine orange rind—

at ten you were fine;

that you looked,

as a matter of fact,

then quite divine.”