LatinosUSA

My Sister's Fingers

I like to say I leant
over, comforted my sister, her fingers
trapped half in, half out
the car window, like an indecisive
cat, swelling skin, shocked
pink. That I salved her pain with
 
something cold, to soothe
the hurt, said, Show me, you’re
fine, everything’s okay, kissed
her bruised bones and made
it unhappen, released her
to a child’s turn of thought
 
I like to say everyone applauded
my maturity, that in my arms she was
safe, the ache all gone, the world
made small again – containable.
I like to say that she grew, straight
and tall, fern-supple in the breeze