In the lamplight
       the little girl trudges home
head down
      step weary
                thoughts heavy
                         mind on the past
               of dreams and hopes
      forsaken and realised
thinking how a dream is no longer as good
      when it happens
                           a let down
a prelude of nothingness ahead
             and the effort of forging another goal
      as having none
is the distant tree with no branches
              no balance
nothing for the wind to make music
       and once inside the house
               in her lonely bedroom
she removes her hat and gloves
          putting them carefully away
                 but leaving her coat on the bed
she looks in the mirror
                seeing an elderly lady look back
         with a knowing smile
experienced
        and worldly
and wonders why she took so long
                                                 coming home