Daily.

When life becomes distracted

while dealing with a mess

 and return to table duties

prompts another to confess

the powdered chocolate profile

with coated purple shirt

nonchalantly ponders

her sticky-fingered dirt.

The thing that always stumps me

as I look at her darkened lips,

is the way she thinks I won't see them,

those evidential tips:

A pile of broken pieces,

a splash from dirt-stained sink,

the cast of wayward dollies

left wet from "taking a drink,"

A page torn from a hostage book,

her sister's stolen purse

where coins once danced when shaken

and the secret gum gone, much worse.

When life is full of dainty thefts

committed in daring raid,

I have to remind myself it'll pass,

and someday the shock treatments will fade...

Someday.