Qu: My Sister, the Fire

First published in Qu: A Contemporary Literary Magazine from Queens University, Charlotte Issue 20, Volume 20, Summer 2024.

My Sister, the Fire 

Anna came in hot / told Mom she was having / an abortion / Mom said wait / and didn’t she know Mom and Dad / had been trying / to have another baby / and no they couldn’t / could she? / do it / for her mother? / Anna crackled and heaved / molten / warm teenaged tears / ran from the house / who doesn’t want a mother’s love? / being born a twin / Anna’d always had half / of everything / Anna said she would / grow into an offering / incubate a sister / kindle a kin / she never told / no photos / I saw that she wore / the same / big / black and red polka dot sweater / day after day / despite the swelter / of summer in Florida / she covered / what she didn’t want / her classmates to know / sometimes Anna let me come near / hold my hand to creation / feel her shimmer / Anna ballooned into a circle / floated away one day / seemed to me / but they just took her / chopped her / open / took the baby out / put nothing in / to her arms / I sat on Anna’s bed / Anna said / I Don’t Want To Scare You / and showed me / the staple marks / biting her / belly like a bear trap / I wasn’t scared / then / but now I’m a mother / I know / I could / never / burn my child / the way they burned Anna / from the inside / licking her up / with their own longing