Woman

Somewhere between the rows of buttons,
	gloves and petticoats
We dressed her.
Curls were pinned, eyes blacked with mascara
	and childhood reminisced.
A tie was being broken
And a new one made.
Sorrow and joy together, transformed 
	into hopes and dreams.
In a rustle of satin . . . .
She was gone.

C.Lawry Brown's Questions:

Does this convey the sadness and joy together?  Is there enough description to show what is happening.  Do I depict the change from a little girl to a woman enough to make it clear?  Is it too short?  I felt it was a bit too short but it is to the point and extending it might take away the effect I am striving for.

Rocking

She rocked endlessly, watching.
The window pan frosted.
The cold reading out its icy fingers.
She could almost hear little voices
Squealing with delight.
Little finger struggling to hold the stencil.
The white mixture transformed,
Stars, angels, snowmen.
She could almost hear caroler's voices,
The tender blending of youth.
The smell of turkey faintly lingered.
Suddenly, reality swept in
On the tail of the storm outside.
She rocked endlessly, watching.

C.Lawry Brown's Questions:

Does starting and ending with the same line work?  I wanted to show her rocking, then remembering, then just alone rocking.  I have seen my grandmother sitting by the window in just this way, a smile would come to her face, then a look of sadness. When I asked what she was thinking she would just smile.  I want to express that here.  Did I succeed?