The very first thing she could recall
was an improvised merry-go-round,
a swarm of fireflies 
spinning over her cradle.

The stream burbled 
from the forest depths,
shaking its rattle of white pebbles.

Now,
as an old woman with aching knees,
she seldom thinks of taking a walk.

Somehow she might come down—
but how could she ever 
climb back up?

Jovana Simic Roussou is a Serbian poet based in Greece. She writes in Serbian, Greek, and English. Her poetry, originally written in English or self-translated from Serbian, has appeared or is forthcoming in Plume, Fairy Tale Review, Los Angeles Review, Mantis, Exchanges, Trafika Europe, and Blue Unicorn. You can find her on Facebook or Instagram.