Being eldest, she always knew the best
places to hide for games of hide and seek
and where to find the abandoned bird’s nest
or the stones you needed to cross the creek
with dry shoes. She was strong and fast and brave;
she already knew most of the letters
and how to turn the couch into a cave.
He adored her and liked nothing better
than to follow her through the afternoon
with all the adventures they might contrive.
Perhaps they’d build a laser to destroy the moon
or, with sharpened sticks, defend their bee hive
from a greedy bear, or dig for treasure
buried long ago beneath this very ground.
They’ll find nothing but rocks; yet still, there’s pleasure
in the hunt, and in the echoing sound
of laughter. One cannot hope to measure,
the worth of what together they have found.
Siblings: for Shiloh and Judah
