Ansley Piper Dunning

(this written about a baker's half-dozen years ago)

this then stunning lithe oldest teenage niece, daughter of

my younger sister epitomizes a tall drink of water

(similar to the mother at same age)

What with her willowy young woman body

brimming with budding potential 

   for breath-taking beauty

enhanced by her quiet mien

expressing itself thru exemplary 

   artistic and literary flair

if asked to draw a character sketch anime 

   or wax poetic she would demure

modesty restrains her 

   acknowledging creative talents

so I thought to compose an ode in praise

of this quiet-natured adolescent 

   teetering on the brink of adulthood

(now a glowingly radiant young woman)

evolving positive qualities 

   via submittable the strength of said sibling

whose ambitious parents embarked to Spain

late summer found them 

   bound for the Iberian peninsula

this brother suppresses 

   envy adventurous bold risk-taking

exposing offspring to world wide web of Europe

fostering cultural awareness represents continuity

for I remember this youngest sibling 

   as gently conniving for courage

to act on her je nais sais qua esprit de corps

as like an inner divining rod

   and faith in self-enabling an exemplary example 

of motherhood constituting

both this and Marleigh

   (the second of deux whip-smart darlings)

with the world at their fingertips as hands-on learning

all the while insinuating courage 

   to take life by the red dee bull horns!