[elaine130]

And now for something a little different. I was inspired to write this by my outrageously fashionable 2 year-old daughter who loves to sing, dance and most of all play dress up. My daughter is American first and foremost, but her background is Philippine/Spanish/Mediterranean (my side) and British/Sicilian (Dad's side). Hope you enjoy it!

-Elaine



EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

Off she goes
A flurry
Of tulle, ribbon and rhinestones
Carrying her pink purse stuffed with glittery glosses and a spare tiara
Plus her brother’s “lost” pet rock and beloved marbles
My olive-skinned and exotic
Princess of a daughter

Here she is
Playing
Inside her brightly colored world
Dressed in magenta, silver, emerald and gold
At once a sugarplum ballerina and an angelic diva
My unique and spectacular
Fashion plate of a daughter

Way back when
I remember
Monochrome days when a brown immigrant Filipina girl
Would place high up on royal thrones and steep pedestals
All of her pastel Barbies, malibu Skippers and peaches and cream dolls
Plus her brother’s “lost” G.I. Joe doll with the kung fu grip

There I was
Surrounded
By images of blonde, blue-eyed and fair-skinned pretty ones
I was on the outside, looking in at their exquisite world
From my own black and white reality fantasizing and wondering
What would it be like to be a princess?

Here I am
Admiring my daughter,
My real life Mediterranean Princess Jasmine and gypsy Esmeralda
Or maybe she’ll dress like a Mexican Dora the Explorer
Or a chic ebony Bratz girl
Pixie dust and a spectrum of hues color her world like an endless rainbow
She’s a dream come true,
My global beauty of a daughter.