"Spring in Mendocino"
Ki Koenig
Sister
By Andrew Lafleche
Okay, I whisper, baby Sister,
don’t open your eyes.
Keep dreaming,
snug the drawstrings tight.
Throats and binding,
uppers and quarters lining,
dream. This is your time.
Lights bowed to your presence,
audience aghast.
Stumble across the waxed pine.
Drift into falling, and reach.
Just don’t open your eyes;
Let it settle.
Feel the waves of clapping hands.
Dream, baby girl,
Something peaceful
like a landed pirouette
That just hasn’t hit yet—
The world can wait longer
for your innocence.
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