Eldest Sister

Dedicated to my sister

You were the first
To pioneer the treacherous
Landscape of our childhood
Your shoulders bore the weight
Of impossible standards

You were the first
To show me unconditional love
Before I even knew
Who I was
I began to love myself like you

You were the first
Whose values reflected mine
Yet more than a decade apart
Our mirrored perspectives
Synchronize the beat of our hearts

Danny was the second
To teach me that I will survive
Anything that seeks to drown me
The way I kept my head above water
Was seeing my sisters rise above the same sea

I was the last
Grateful to walk the trail you blazed
Though I had a map on my quest,
You did it untrained, without aid
And I will always speak of my eldest
With the pride
That shines in my eyes

Author's Note

Who do you look up to?

Reviews

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Oh I love the love and gratitude this poem conveys. It's like sisters are always like mothers aren't they? You are so lucky to have that and I'm sure your siblings are so lucky to have a sister who can express her feelings so beautifully. I love that the poem is about spreading love.