(Unspent breath shakes you)
“I have a sister!”
Your little Emma
Your whoops, hollers, shouts –
Stocking feet patters
You take a curtsy
Feminine stage sis
No waist bending time
Dainty, knee bending
Share applause spotlight
“I’m the big sister”
More than words for you
You, Mom-substitute
Nurturer-times twelve
(Save some space for self….)
Special Needs sister
(I didn’t want it -
My sib legacy)
Not a chosen road
The road chooses you
Your grace is open
“He has autism”
You pause, blue eyes stare
“He is not a brat”
Sharp turn on your heels
“I love them so much”
The four of us drive
(Way too much noise)
Haiku writing space
(Unspent breath shakes you)
(To Read Part One of the Five Part Series, Please
Not a chosen road
The road chooses you
I love the above line. It is so true! Beautiful poem!
Posted by: Linda Jacobs | November 04, 2009 at 04:41 PM
I think the quotes in this poem serve as emotional markers -- from joy to the pain of autism to the love that is unconditional upon all children. Thank you again for your emotional bravery.
Posted by: Therese Broderick | November 04, 2009 at 05:11 PM
My firstborn is a big sister, too, and while the road that chose her (love that line) isn't quite the same, she is travelling it with the same joy and nurturing spirit. As an only child myself, it's fascinating and beautiful for me to watch their relationship develop!
"I love them so much" -- that says it all, doesn't it?
Posted by: Matthew | November 05, 2009 at 07:04 AM