Midge Sue could never please her mother
She was an outcast, not her brother
If she folded clothes, her mother would refold them
Laundry was never expected of brother, Jim
If Midge Sue cleaned the kitchen, it was not good enough
You are a female, her mother said, you need to get tough
No one was tougher than her mother
Who also favored Midge’s little stepbrother.
If Midge Sue prepared a meal, it was deemed “bad”.
Her mother’s negative opinions made her sad.
When she was eighteen, Midge Sue left home for good.
Found her tribe, who built her up, said that she could.
No one put her down, they built her up and loved her too.
She never returned home, our wise woman, Midge Sue.
Sinewy strong sturdy Seth had his pick of girls
I never date them, he said, if they have any curls.
He broke his own rule when he met my stepmother.
She had gorgeous curls like his youngest stepbrother
We never figured out why he broke his own rule
But handsome hunky Seth is nobody’s fool
He married up, married wise, wealthy and well
They are totally happy as far as we can ever tell
She likes green so well, her whole house is one color.
Isn’t that boring? I ask her annoyed cousin’s stepbrother.
It seems that she’s expanded her horizons, added yellow now.
I see a green elephant, green horse, green dogs and green cow.
Where is the yellow? I ask. Is it in another room?
I think it’s behind the sink in the form of an old straw broom.
And there’s a yellow duckie in the tub, someone said.
I wish in this house she would add some touches of red.
She was a lithe and lively flexible acrobatic cat.
She was doing exercises when her bench went splat.
It’s a worn-out pumpkin, it was time, said her mother.
It is November sixth, added her annoyed stepbrother.
But I thought it would stay forever, she said.
She had fallen on her tushy and landed on her head.
You can have another one next Halloween.
Now stop having a fit, they both said to the teen.
Robbers in their den:
The harshest of men,
In all ten,
Their boss, Terrible Ben!!
Stepbrother of as terrible Ken!!
Now, not with his pistol but confusing pen,
Their next operation indicating 'When'
And much persuaded to give it a name
One wouldn't have guessed, Nursing Mother Hen
For his having once favored 'Operation Wren'
Robbers in their den:
The harshest of men,
In all ten,
Their boss, terrible Ben!!
Stepbrother of as terrible Ken!!
Now, not with his pistol but confusing pen
Their next operation indicating 'when'
And much persuaded to give it a name
One wouldn't have guessed, nursing mother hen
For his having once favored 'operation wren'
A combined family.
A tricky situation.
One I have managed to avoid and gladly
I have no idea how they do it.
Each thinking the other one’s children
are spoiled.
Keeping their mouths shut
or worse, taking over too soon.
A tricky situation.
One I have gladly avoided
Here you are, only twelve, at our kitchen table.
Such a carrot top you were! Strangers used to think
you were our red-head mother’s natural son.
And here’s that photo you took of me at college.
Though you’re not in it, how could I ever forget
it was you in front of me that snapped that shot?
For I’m laughing and so glad you came to see me!
In this one, all ten of us are in the back yard
dressed in our Sunday best - our first big reunion!
I’m nearly 30; just look at my silly perm!
Folks still mistake me for Dori in this picture!
Look how Mom and Thea - for once - are smiling!
You’re standing behind me, in a lovely grey suit,
only 32 and almost out of law school!
Here from more recent pictures, this shows a rare time
we were joined, but sadly, for Dad‘s funeral.
You‘re not in this one, Dale . . . nor in any others.
That picture in our back yard was to be the last.
My dear stepbrother, the best man I ever knew -
Taken from us so young. . . you remain beloved.
Written 10/9/13
Used today March 24, 2021 for
A Meaningful Poem - Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France
What can I say about my brother Sweety?
He's sweet
He's kind
He's loving
He's funny
But most of all
He's wise
So thank you Sweety for teaching me
How to live life fully
So I wouldn't grow up to be a bully. ;)
NOTE: This is about my stepbrother, who has been there for me since I was born. I wrote this when I was about 12, acknowledging how sweet he is how much I adored him from since little. We actually NEVER call each other by our real names. Just Sweety. Lol!
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