Portrait of my Sister

taffy pulled reflection of the child
grasshopper limbs wrapped
tangled towards a taut ribbed center
the incense swirls over her intoxication
and a man whose only friend was death
croons a lullabye of no solace into the room

ganglier round faced version of myself
I want to steal away
find something safe
dreaming tales of sibling escapes
to live in boxcars and wooded cabins
untouched and laughing

our playhouse door had a lock
on the outside
we would crawl in through a window
close the shutters to feel safe
and disappear
oranges stolen from a neighborÕs tree
garage sale books and babies
donÕt come home til whispertime
til Florida summer afternoons turn dark