Sister 1909-1995

she worked here
learning retired repository
studying stacks of education
filed ever so carefully among
dusty dewey decimal systems,
among stacks of volunteers-
acquiescent acceptance

pharmacy manuals,
people smiling in glossy pulp pages
childless South American radio frequency lives,
nephew travel tales
exposes in foreign tongue lands
falling off cruise ship deck into blue sky dreams

passions planted among dusty exotic shores of recognition
laughing with a box of simple crackers at Christmas

caught in choice's web
wearing threadbare depression taught clothing
ideas, attitudes
afraid of change and spending and laughing and trusting
instincts
a bird trapped in cage
becoming of age. ancient, wise

trusting her brother's decisions,
guidance where it mattered

late at night her watercolor brushes glistened
she explored exploded
delicate soft spoken nature parameters
where searching expectations
led her past solitary confinement
bleeding water and color on her life's palette

at 86 her heart stopped while
she was rolling along