Hair In Red Overalls

I I knew a time when my sister, tall and fair with her sage sense of humor, dull and non-existent Seemed positively, metallic, blessed with flowing shackles, a gift, extended only to me. Limiting my growth past 8 years, haunting my dreams until age 21 always advising her younger sis, to teary boredom “Do as I say”, “whereso’er I may” Lend me your shoe to prove my superiority. By night or day, I am your stone Buzzard and I will pick your bones II This I suffered The rainbow might as well have been between us, For the roses lost their petals long ago I can no longer feel their thorns, my toughened skin Yet lately when I turn to cry for you, The pain is far greater than I should bear For (you) seep, from my tear ducts, a bloodless water driblet Injury that keeps finding its way out Purging the likes of you In twin tissues III Infuriates me. Each night from my pillow writhed Come darkened silhouettes of your pigtails I inhale one, in each nostril, just so I can blow you away Are you a sister of another mister? My tormenter, my thumb umbrella Cleanse me from your sticky sight Allow my legs to find that gentle breeze called freedom Before the very bone that we share dies Making us look upon our mirrors To find the frozen cordial face As we pretend to plant, a history, of fond remembrance When we are but plowing, our indignations in the ground IV Unbeknownst I knew a time when my sister, tall and fair, Sat braiding her curly brown hair Finding me sleeping, without nary a sound Wrapped her tight braid, around and around Laughing as my life was slipped from sight Dragging me constantly, round that night So what if I, but a babe in skin Was found by Dad, in the playpen Hence, since, even now, my skin, crawls Afraid of the hair in red overalls