Sister

I never knew--
--You. Sister. Dear sister,
This letter is for you.

I have a sister
with eyes like mine
whose body brown
like mine
short and round
picks flowers
eats mangoes
rests on beaches
moves
sways
rocks
waves

This one sister
--with a voice to(o) mine
loud and bold--
so says mine
--booms laughter
and whistles whispers
but still
can call quiet
for time
to hear the ones we love
break hearts
hurt time
echo back
around the table
back to hurt our hearts
just this time

Beside a maze of flowers
I left my cage behind me
to comb soft beaches
to write names in sand
to reach for glass, 
shattered, smoothed
With you I am all--right.

I, crying,
slipped
into your sleeping arms.
You--snoring--
smiling
--calmed me.

Late is constructed
from fear of forgetting
by those not forgotten
who worry while waiting.
We can never be late
for each other--
we are always
on time.

You sent me
thirteen dollars
when we were away
You wanted to buy me lunch.
I ate
thoughts of you
I sent you
shavings
of my
havings
for
I miss you
too.

My only sister
sings, snorts, sleeps--
shapes
me
--with love,
a sister.