Then

She’s standing still 

pale as England, 

slim and serious

as I stood 

then.

Hair chopped 

above her shoulders

with a little curl allowed

as mine was 

then.

A little curl allowed,

in memory of it’s ringlets

earlier than

then.

Then it grew longer 

and we pulled it straight.

So now, it’s more like it was 

before then.

Before then, 

when

it was longer still,

and ironed straight

under thick brown paper.

It had been shorter still before

then

it’s feminine length curtailed, but

with a little curl allowed,

a reminder of it’s ringlets earlier than

then.

Of it’s earlier hated ringlets

grown  from loose curls.

Ringlets cut 

when 

father died.

Not until

then.

https://ephemeralelegies.com/2020/12/02/then-by-lynn-white/