I hear a song
ringing at every corner of the earth,
rung out from every human heart.
A quartet,
a chorus,
full in every part, but
empty;
rich with every swell, and yet it wanders,
imperfect in its beauty—
flawed even in the depths of each new chord.

She was there,
waiting for me,
smiling at me
with open arms.
A gasp of surprise
held back by fear
of losing this dear
sweet sister of mine.

In just a few minutes
we were walking,
chatting, talking,
arms round each other.
She was mine
again;
the pain
vanished.

“You’ve grown!”
I say
and pray
that the size of her feet
aren’t the same
as mine.

They are.