My Sister

by Linda Slusser
(Lansing, MI, USA)

My sister and I were closer than most,
holding on to each other like we'd seen a ghost.

We were always together in foster care,
wondering why our mom was not there.

When we got in trouble..as kids often do,
she would start crying which made me cry too.

There were also times when we laughed a lot,
we shared precious moments we never forgot.

We made a map..buried it by a tree,
said when we got older we would go back to see.

If our code was deciphered on the map that we drew,
it would take you back to where the tree grew.

We found a kitten..fragile and weak,
it had a wound so we took a peek.

We played as if we were doctors..applying first-aid,
the kitten recovered and eventually played.

My sister and I were creative and caring,
though our worst times were when we were sharing.

When my sister got sick it was clear to see..
she would not recover..I wished it was me.

I had no map to guide her along,
I could not dress her wound to help her stay strong.

That was the day I wanted to share,
a life for a life..seemed to be fair.

Our bond had been broken on that fateful day,
cancer had came and took my sister away.