Sandra Rokoff-Lizut

TURNING TEN TODAY

— for Sylvie

She sculpts the sand                            with her name  
in humongous // letters

handstands with // abandon                       
cartwheels with \/ \/ \/ \/ unbounded joy.

Tides & time 
will claim
the name                                             written on the shore

mark a million cycles  

of /\ /\ cartwheels heading \/
  toward a future.

But now her head //  points down
both legs rise in a perfect V

toes aim for the sun


& time holds its breath.

A retired educator and children’s book author, Sandra Rokoff-Lizut is the recipient of the 2014 Oregon Poetry Association’s Award. She has studied under Oregon Poet Laureate Peter Sears and attended poetry classes at Oregon State University and workshops at Port Townsend Writers’ Conference and Kahini Institutes. A member of OPA, Mary’s Peak Poets, and Poetic License, Sandra frequently teaches poetry to children in afterschool programs and older adults at senior centers. Her previous publications include: Verse Weavers, Illya’s Honey, Penwood Review, Bicycle Review and Wilderness House Review.