Saving My Sister
-
Lost beneath the turbulence
-
thrashing about
-
I saved her once
-
saved her from drowning
-
in calm waters.
-
She had pranced about
-
the wooden deck
-
in her tiny sailor bathing
suit
-
pigtails wagging
-
giggles floating on the
summer breeze
-
like feathered spores from
wishes
-
that sprout dandelions
-
the blow-up swimming muscles
-
hugging her little arms
-
as she skipped on the deck
-
back and forth
-
and back again
-
screeching "Jack and Jill
-
went up a hill" over and
over
-
not the song
-
just the line over and over
-
swinging a plastic pale
-
Mom egging her on with
-
"Look at my sweet girl."
-
My foot helped her
-
into the pool
-
when Mom’s back was turned.
-
The muscles popped up
-
on the surface
-
forced off by the impact
-
and Mom freaked
-
and screamed
-
and actually turned to me
–-
-
so I dove in
-
and swam up underneath her
-
pushing her up and
-
out of the pool
-
water choked up
-
on the deck
-
mixed with her salty tears
-
and Mom turned to me
-
missing my smile
-
and called me her baby,
-
her sweet, sweet baby.
-
Tears came to me,
-
the world blurred
-
and I felt giddy
-
with images dancing inside
my head
-
creating scenes in which
-
I managed to save my sister’s
life
-
over and over again.
- This page last updated 1/29/00.