Sister

 

beneath Nana’s afghans

telling scary stories

we gave our childhood a home

blue and purple stretched over pillows

we wandered through imagined places

enclosing sister secrets and pleasures

 

it lasted as long as it could

 

replaced by others with their false caring

I left her for them hoping for more

she went to find out for herself

what was offered to keep

rarely passing in different stories

we touched each other little

 

it lasted as long as it could

 

captured in my own heavy battles

my sister always too true

drowned outside the blue and purple afghans

seeking what was forgotten

much of it was very beautiful

she wrote when saying good-bye

 

it lasted as long as it could