Hanging with my Sisters

Cherry

By Philip Sidney

Tue, 21 Jul 2015
  • 6076 reads
25 comments
 

Cornerstones, they hold me up -

they do not know,

months slip by without a word

shadows cloak me

in their silent presence, but

when we meet

the talk, the talk, the laughter,

the tears,

the drinking, the smoking

time tumbles

past into present into future -

Nicola, Catherine, Mary, Alice, Lucy

sisters, my sisters

 

my other sisters

don’t even know they are

they float across time and settle

into my bones, my blood, my DNA -

Carson McCullers, Flannery O’Connor,

Clarice Lispector, Emily Dickinson, Janet Frame

their dark, their light, their words, their sight, I am

small in their presence, blessed by what they have left

 

sisters, my sisters

if I leave a sliver

of what you have

given me I might

deserve the title -

sister, too.

Certificate 12
Poem
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by EB on

'they float across time and settle

into my bones, my blood, my DNA -' that's esecially nice. Like the idea of being related to the poetic sisters. Makes me wonder who I'd be related to by choice. This is great writing.

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks EB smiley

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

Great writing, indeed. Love that it's my first read of the morning. What a lovely way to start the day.

Rich

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you so much Rich! smiley

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Oh! For the warmth of sisterhood.

A delight to read and gives me food for thought at who I wouldn't mind as a sister.

I'm reading Wuthering Heights at the moment, which I'm really enjoying, so wouldn't mind Emily Bronte as a sister.

I like the picture too, conjures up sisterhood perfectly, like your poem.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Jenny, I am blessed with my sisters, always room for more though.  Glad you like the picture. smiley

Submitted by Canonette on

That's really beautiful.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks canonette.

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Has a lovely feel to it Philip. Like wind-chimes gently playing in the breeze. Lovely message.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Parson Thru. :)

Submitted by fidud on

What a fab poem. It is so evocative of family, close, taken for granted relationships. Then you take us into a freeing of sisterhood - a relief for me as I don't have sisters, so it then gave me a real sense of yes it's ok, the words of strangers can also be cornerstones. And the beautiful humility of that last bit...humbling and gracious. Lovely writing! 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you fidud, sisters don't need to be biological.  :)

Submitted by blighters rock on

Humble by choice but double-edged to a very evocative end

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Blighters :)

Submitted by Bee on

Loved this. And what a lovely picture!

Bee

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Helen

What a nice glimpse into your family life. And nothing like family for accepting you as you are. I'm amazed every time I meet up with my one remaining sister, how we seem to know each other's mind.

And how nice to feel related to all those powerful writers. You deserve a place amongst them. Your writing is amazing.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

You are far too generous, Jean, I feel a connection with these writers but I've got a long way to go yet.  No one seems to understand quite as well as our sisters. :)

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

You are far too generous, Jean, I feel a connection with these writers but I've got a long way to go yet.  No one seems to understand quite as well as our sisters. :)

Submitted by VeraClark on

This fuelled my love for both kinds of sisters. It's such an honest, touching piece full of carefully placed connections and footprints.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you Vera. :)

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello,

After meeting you at Nottingham, I wanted to read some of your work.  This one drew me because I have just one Sister but we are very close.  I really enjoyed reading this and loved the idea of being related to writers we admire.  So, as my sister, Jane, often says 'It is a truth universally acknowledged...'   

Hope you enjoyed the evening as much as I did.  

Moya

 

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks for reading Moya!  I just loved your story and your performance was so good.  Very funny with a nice touch of naughtyness.  It was lovely to meet you. smiley

Submitted by sari geron ligh... on

very very very nice......

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you! :)

Submitted by rayjones on

Having a twin sister, I don't know what it would be like to be without one, then those who write or try to have kindred everywhere. Wonderful read, it had a bounce to it cheerful yet touching and so hopeful and reassuring thank you for writing it