Hey, sis, who I cried
so hard not to hate,
got the short end of too many sticks
broken by the men in the family
married a Jewish boy
flunked out of college together
his mom broke up the marriage
three abortions, failed
to tell dad who died of a sudden
heart attack, causing your massive guilt
dyed beautiful strawberry blond hair
until it looked like a broken bale
creative early childhood teacher
thrown away with addictions
two jobs— first a dress store,
no paycheck, ran a bill up for garb
last job a telephone sales lady
fired for rampant body odor
married again, best pea soup on Earth
ravioli to think you were Italian
drank him out of the house
into an alimony shackle
hatred and denial his only luggage
moved near your brothers
lied faster than constant
emphysema-hacking breaths,
spiders and snakes spewed
from lips like the bad sister
in the fairy tale. No words of love
or pearls of wisdom versed
like the kind, good sister
angry and demanded care
for every immediate need
ran out of money, never
able to untwist pills, died
in permanent nursing home,
funeral more glad than sad.
Originally published in Cajun Mutt Press