Blue Moon

Black dog

Golden Bourbon

Hollow log

Open door

Quiet room

Too much things

Gone too soon

Scary doll

On the chair

Signs of life

Everywhere

Calligraphied prints

Painted walls

Pictures, tchotchkes

All of the all

So much of you

No longer here

Before that day, I’ll take a chance

To build a bridge

Where there is none

Long washed away

When the summer’d come

No one watching

No one home

No mama listening

On the phone

Three little orphans

Looking for crumbs

Could’ve fed each other

But then we’d have none

Instead we fought

Built fortresses tall

And stood behind

Garrisoned walls

No room for love

No vulnerable hearts

Each of us stood

Prepped with darts

I’ll shoot you first

Before you see me bleed

And never will I ever

Reveal my need

For sisterly protection

Sisterly love

That’s way too scary

I am too young

Mid ’50s now

But with you,

It’s as if it’s  

1972.

I am six

And you’re much older

And yet I’m parenting

Perhaps I’m bolder?

Bold enough

To want more

Then these bits

On the floor

I want serenity

I want peace

I knew even then

It wasn’t in reach

But only if I stuck out my hand

And took not yours,

But my own.

The only one

Who’d lead me home. 

The only way I’d be okay

Was being strong 

enough to hold

My own