Today is Poetry Friday, and Buffy Silverman is hosting with photos and a three-act drama mask poem about a hognose snake.
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 is my 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.
Where I start writing one less line each day…
XVII
My dad bought the little house
for my mom. Two bedrooms
in the suburbs. She wasn’t happy.
She had a son and two daughters
and one more on the way.
By the time I came along,
they had built another bedroom.
Eventually they pieced together
more bedrooms by transforming
the garage and laundry room
into two more. I remember a time
when all siblings were home
and rooms burst their seams.
As they married, we played musical
bedrooms, filling in the gaps.
XVIII
Pink sky morning brings chirping.
Warming liberates reptiles
emerging from winter cold.
Hope in this new day will stay.
Lifetime bow of family
ties up love like rose-tinged clouds.
Queue up the crescendo for
dulcet and devout playing
on this blooming day in May.
Life is a bouquet of kin
to rejuvenate the soul.
XIX
We watch the quail as they
are ready for the first hatching.
Gleaners gathering seeds and also us,
who watch them noticing their
fill of the allurement of
the living. No need for a
barn or coop to raise their young.
For the green light of
the fragments of consequence, we
winter on through loss and ends.
That is why what
comes next is all a gift
on this mystic mansion of creation.
From Jack Gilbert’s poem “Moreover” this striking line: “We are gleaners who fill the barn for the winter that comes on.”
XX
This journey is full and sweet
Thanks to those brothers and sisters
who shine in our life-creating, as
the abounding world glitters
stories of memory
stories of faith and joy
stories of unease
stories of safe convoys
We are finer for having had years–
years and days and moments
Together stronger, together better
Full with beloved proponents
XXI
In answer to your questions:
- Yes, thank you.
- Fine.
- Maybe.
- No, thank you.
- She’s doing great.
- His name is Randy.
- Thank you for saying yes.
- No.
- You know you left way too soon.
- We’re making it, but we miss you.
List poem – (One time my brother wrote me a letter answering my questions with a numbered list of answers like this.)
XXII
Friend
Sister
neighborly
giving partner.
You have become my balm for homesickness.
Notice, as you restore memories, that
more awaits you
A healthy
future
hope
XXIII
So many
birthday feasts
through the years
All nieces
and nephews
celebrating
Life in this
family
Happy love
Siblings
I never doubted your care
Everyday living conveys
faithful love and repair
of failures and hurts
Six humans: no compare
You were there for me
with kind and witty flair
We were gifted a graced way
to hold and love and share
XXIV
Life is an obstinate investment
tended and nourished just so
in fidelity to hope’s assessment
Life is an obstinate investment
never subject to divestment
changes though ‘til time to go
Life is an obstinate investment
tended and nourished just so
XXV 7
gift giver
birthday rememberer
Perfect book gift chooser for me
my whole life long. Continued with
my kids
then theirs
XXVI
family and friends bring life and light
laughter, cooking, reminiscing night
fifty years, growing family bright
becomes future generations’ sight–
memories tucked away to fill the heart
with the thrill of love and hope done right
XXVII
time is short, slow down
no need to speed up to fit
everything in now
more is not always better
be all-in while we have time
XXVIII
my May poems are soon done
I have grown closer to you
My dear sisters and brothers
June rest now, thank God
XXIX
memories and joy
mingle with sadness each day
but gratitude wins
XXX
Rick, Lynne, Judi are now gone
Four remain to life-treasure on
XXXI
Memories pull my heart is full