Today is Poetry Friday, and Buffy Silverman is hosting with photos and a three-act drama mask poem about a hognose snake.Â
In May I’ll be writing daily poems about my siblings, one line, more or less. I came from a family of seven siblings. Now there are only four of us left. In 2012, my oldest brother died, then in 2018, my oldest sister died, and last Sunday, I lost another sister. All have died without warning or illness. Judi just went in her sleep, and I am so sad. I’m going to spend this month updating this post each day with another poem remembering and honoring my siblings.
This one line, more or less process was inspired by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater. See the description of her month-long one line, more or less poems here. and all her crow poems are here. Diane Anderson joined Amy’s challenge and wrote a daily poem about robins in April. Here are Diane’s poems at newtreemom.
I
Small house, six siblings, steady shenanigans
II
Five girls between boy bookends
Full house of playmate dividends
couplet
III
Rick, Lynne, Chris, Judi, Lori
Then came me, followed by Keith
Mom laughed with great joy (and fear)
septercet
IV
Additions came, each nephew/niece contained
great hope and sustenance. Years of joyful gain.
Now I ponder losses; the inescapable pain
as I accede to this birth-to-death rhythm ordained.
quatrain
V
Home
Sisters and brothers abound
grow, move away,
still love
Family
VI
after all night shifts, she slept on the beach
we swam in the ocean; just
once I needed saving
my young lifesaver, wanting a reward,
(I guess) woke her up and told
the tale. “Thank you,” she said.
VII
flying east
following love
“Do you want a return ticket?
Just in case?” my surrogate father
asked me.
big brother
love stays.
VIII
Happy you
laughing through
thoughts of time
together
glad to claim
not so tame
share the name
bellwether
IX
Statin talk after dinner of steak
makes us think about the soundness
of our arteries. Loved ones
gone too quickly remind
us of life’s risk here
on earth. Playing
Balderdash
distracts
us
X
Sweet
eldest
sister, more
obligations
than one should endure.
Swimming upstream alone
surviving abuse, widowed,
raising boys alone, losing dreams,
abusing alcohol. Lifelong rise
up to recover for one more dear day.
XI
We’re dropping like flies,
we have been known to say
around here. My heart has sunk
into a deep wetland of tears and
sadness. Clearing the distant
memories, bridges between
earth and heaven. Thoughts of
you explode into this book
of your hidden life, endless
treasures of love continuing.
Your silent star shines.
XII
Sisters and brothers love’s boon
Life together as one invite
Argue or delight?
Both were normal
No thought of the mournful
end of the seven of us quite
Sisters and brothers
We didn’t always play in tune
but the bond stayed tight
and all seemed right
wondered I of death immune
Sisters and brothers
XIII
You Were Always My Favorite
- You painted my fingernails
- You taught me to read using Go Dog Go
- You and Ken came to my softball games
- You worked as a telephone operator
- We had matching dresses once
- You brought K.C. into our lives
- Your daughter Amy’s middle name is Denise
- I got your room when you got married
- My daughter Maria’s middle name is Christine
- You would have been my kids’ guardian if we died
When You Weren’t
- I cut my foot and you said, “You better not have picked a scab.”
- You hit my head with the bristles when you brushed my hair.
- You wouldn’t accept that my use of “Hilary’s word” deplorable
could be a legitimate criticism of your candidate’s actions.
XIV
Rick was the father I didn’t know
Wedding day he walked me down the aisle.
Lynne married young and bestowed
Gifts like a rich Santa Claus–that style!
Chris is a sister so frank and refreshing
Now lives in Pennsylvania Dutch country.
Judi was a quiet, deep, book-loving blessing
She loved and valued others so humbly.
Lori is now my neighbor and friend
skillfully helped us remodel our dwelling.
Keith is the one on whom we depend
Loves to travel, in family ties excelling.
Six siblings had always been there for me
Three remain–relish each other, I plea.
XV
She was born
in Gaza–
tiny spit
of land in
Israel–
an at “home”
alien.
And I have
the birthright
to mourn the
loss of one
elder while
she loses
everything
everyone?
XVI
I remember just one family vacation
we took with my dad and mom and
six of us kids. (My older brother
was in the service, I think.)
We went to the Grand Canyon.
There were a few tiny
photographs of our trip:
Attending a pow wow.
Looking over the edge of the canyon.
Staying in a hotel with a pool.
Going out to a restaurant.
Then I remember I bought
two polished stones
at the gift shop.
When I was getting my hair brushed,
I dropped one and picked it up with my toes.
What a beautiful way to remember your siblings. Love the bookend image, and all the ess sounds leading to shenanigans.
I’m sorry. What a painful experience to lose those that have known you the longest. Who can possibly be ready for this stage of life? It requires so much more strength than I realized as a younger person. A line a day is such a tribute to the person who already fills your mind. What a tribute and way to honor them. Your siblings are fortunate you belong to them. “steady shenanigans” is a great way to begin…do you have a book in you?
Oh the sibling shenanigans! I am one of 5 kids, and I have experienced some of my biggest emotions and learned some of my hardest lessons in relationship with them. I’m mostly grateful. Thank you for keeping your sibs alive in these poems. Keep going!
So sorry to hear about losing your sister last Sunday. This May challenge sounds like a good one — for memories and honoring all your siblings. How lucky to have seven siblings. I have only one brother and am quite jealous. Looking forward to hearing more about those steady shenanigans. 🙂
Denise, I am so sorry for your heartbreak and loss. It is wonderful that you are taking time to reflect and look back upon the best of times as well! I can’t wait to see how this effort progresses!
I am sad for your loss of your sister Judi, so suddenly. I pray you and your family will be comforted in your grief.
Writing about your siblings this month sounds like such a good way to remember. You already have a great start with sibling shenanigans, the boy bookends, and playmate dividends.
Thanks for sharing the link to my robin poems. You are always so encouraging.
I’m sorry for your loss, Denise. Daily poems about your siblings sounds like a comforting and rewarding project. You’ve gotten off to a great start! xo
Oh Denise! My heart aches for you. I’m one of five and I cannot imagine what it will feel like to lose one of them. I hope your poetry brings a bit of comfort. Sending heartfelt hugs –
I read this morning that grief appears in the space where love existed, so your post and the fledgling lines of your poem begin refilling that space with more love, Denise. Wishing you well on your May journey.
Condolences for your loss(es), but also, what a fabulous way to preserve the memories that will ease (hopefully) the pain.
Blessings for you, Denise, in this sad time. Saying goodbye to those closest to us is the hardest thing. Your tribute poems will create a lasting memory for those who are still with you, all the wonderful parts of a loving family. There are going to be some smiles as you write, like “Mom laughed with great joy (and fear)”. Thank you for sharing with all of us, too.
Denise, my empathic heart weeps for you. Three siblings gone? Sweet Judi. This is a wonderful way to process your grief and honor your own life with such a large family. I love that first one, the alliteration of S’s and the great word shenanigans. Sending hugs from the swamp to the desert.
Denise, I am so sorry for your loss of another sibling. What a great way to honor them all by writing a poem a week, one line more or less, to hear the thoughts you might speak. I love the lines for May second:
Five girls between boy bookends
Full house of playmate dividends
It tells so much with so few words. Hugs again, dear poetry partner. I hope your writing provides an outlet for your grief. Take care.
What an absolutely gorgeous way to honor your siblings, Denise. I’m the youngest of ten (seven girls/three boys). I can related to the “steady shenanigans” and ache for your losses. *Hugs*
As an only child, I always wanted lots of siblings. This is a wonderful project, and I hope you’ll share some of the other poems, too. The opener—”Small house, seven siblings, steady shenanigans”—is terrific. My sympathies on the recent loss of your sister and the others.
I think you are capturing your unique family and some family experiences that many of us share. Poem III made me think of my mother… and how she felt both joy and fear. She was so young when I was born (still a teen). Poem IV reminds of the life-death cycle we all must accept… I have gone through many losses, but I am blessed that I still have my siblings, and they live nearby. I love the conclusion of Poem V, the Elfchen, that home and family still hold love through all the growing and changing. When we have that, it sustains us through the inevitable losses.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Denise. As others have said, this is a beautiful way to honor your family. I always think memories have the power to heal.
I’m so sorry to hear about your sister and the recent losses of your other siblings. I love your idea about remembering them through your writing this month. I hope this process brings you solace, and I’m sure your family will treasure reading your written tribute as it unfolds.
I’m so sorry for your loss! What a beautiful tribute in this series of verse.