To a Younger Sister

Kathy Riordan

Location: Florida, United States
Birthday: April 27

Bio: One woman's view of life and the universe. Follow @katriord on Twitter.

MY RECENT POSTS

Look at This Face
February 09, 2012 12:46PM
The Good Year
December 31, 2011 08:39AM
Christmas, Party of One
December 26, 2011 10:19AM
Christmas Greetings
December 23, 2011 06:56PM
What's In a (First) Name?
December 12, 2011 07:28AM

MY RECENT COMMENTS

“Sigh. . .John Cusack. A favorite movie, a favorite song, a favorite all-time guy…”
10:37AM
“You have the most incredible posts, Gary. Love these.”
January 06, 2012 07:12AM
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January 06, 2012 06:53AM
“Interesting argument. I give you props for framing it and defending it articulat…”
January 02, 2012 09:30AM
“For all your sakes, I hope so, too. We could use a good year.”
January 01, 2012 07:43PM

Kathy Riordan's Links

What I Can't Write About: Floating; The Strong One; The Best News Yet; In My Mother's Arms; To a Younger Sister; Do Not Disturb; Taking the Red-Eye; Breath of Life; Tears; do not resuscitate; Vigil; What I Can't Write About
Poetry, if you like that sort of thing:: The Sound of Trees; At the Public House; Dear Girl; it wasn't long, the time that was; Base Camp in Muddy Bottom; in tribute to stevie smith; After the Having, Having Had; Silver; There Is No Insurance for This; Pretty Maids All In a Row; I Thought I'd Write a Little Villanelle; At the Beguinage (for Megan); Daddy Did You Dream Me Up
Christmas: Silver; Signs and Wonders, and a Christmas Miracle; The Christmas Baby; The Ecumenical, Geographical, All-Inclusive Christmas Feast; Making a List, Checking it Twice; Santa Dog; The Dreaded Holiday Letter; When Santa Was My Grandpa; A Naked Christmas; E-Readers and iPhones and Coffee, Oh My! Holiday 2009 Guide; Favorite Homemade Family Gifts for Christmas
New to Open Salon?: Your Friends on Open Salon; Best Posts of Open Salon 2009; Introduction to Some Great Reads on Open Salon
Where I've been, where I'm going:: Paris; Under a New Mexico Sky; Casting the Movie of My Life; Muffin; Sagebrush and Funeral Potatoes; Saying Goodbye to Summer at the Cottage
Twitter from the Inside:: Twitter Is What You Make It: Who to Follow, and Why
Posts on World War II:: Honoring My Soldiers, My Heroes on Veterans Day; Letter from an American World War II Soldier to His Parents; On the 65th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden; Tom Hanks to Bring "Beyond All Boundaries" to WWII Museum
Some of my work on Iran:: Index: all posts on Iran and Neda; "The Anonymous" Behind Neda Video Awarded Prestigious Polk; Iran Fabricates Interpol Involvement in Neda Investigation; Doctor Claims to Identify Neda's Killer; Doctor in Neda Video Arrives Safely in London; Not that Neda: How the Wrong Photo Became an Icon; Updates on Neda, Symbol of a Revolution; Her Name Was Neda
Some of my favorite posts:: When Mayo Clinic Speaks, I Listen; Incognito in Istanbul; Such a Death
I also write here:: Follow me on bloglovin; Follow me on Kindle; In My Life; Journeys

« Back to Posts

FEBRUARY 2, 2010 12:29AM

Rate: 11 Flag

BigSisterInMaine

you were little green crocheted blankets

and warm soft baby clothes

snuggled up

taking a bottle

soft hair, soft eyes

crying

laughing

i remember when mom picked your name

and how it fit

you were the light

the laughter

it isn't easy being firstborn

like you think

having to lead

having to love above all

but it is the order of things

and when the laughter is gone

and the light disappears from your eyes

the love is still there

you don't remember

children i loved as my own

the big sister

the little mother

big sisters will always be big sisters

to little sisters

and you will always be the little sister

even when you're big

even when you have children of your own

there will always be a firstborn

Author tags:

poetry, buck up bucky, life is tough, family dynamics, little sister, big sister, firstborn

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Comments

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ohhh, yes. I understand this. I'm going to send it to my big sister, and (maybe one day) to my little sister as well. I am smack-dab-in-the-middle sister.

the ranting boomer

February 02, 2010 12:38 AM

I'm a big sister not by much, but how I do relate. Nice sentiments, Kathy. Aren't you supposed to be resting?
R

FusunA

February 02, 2010 12:41 AM

Beautiful!!

And rated.

Tinkerertink69

February 02, 2010 05:11 AM

I relate too--one of four sisters. Isn't it great?

sophieh

February 02, 2010 06:40 AM

Remember one thing, though: It isn't easy to come after, either.

Which is to say, nothing is inherently easy, you know?

AtHomePilgrim

February 02, 2010 06:52 AM

Well done! (((R)))

Rod Emmons

February 02, 2010 08:10 AM

I'm the big sister too, you captured it perfectly. I remember when my youngest sister, eight years younger than me, turned 25 and I wrote her little book of quotes about growing up and on the last page I wrote something like "Here's to finally letting baby sisters grow up." She burst into tears when she read it.

mamoore

February 02, 2010 08:23 AM

I love the way she emerges, bit by bit, thru the poignant details. You had me at "...little green crocheted blankets." Beautiful. (r)

Chicken Màâàn

February 02, 2010 08:25 AM

Touching... siblings are important. Siblings are, and can turn out to be your best friend.
Beautifully done Kathy.
Rated.

N. Jordan

February 02, 2010 08:44 AM

Thank you! I love siblings. There's such a special bond there. Lovely poem, Kathy.

Gwendolyn Glover

February 02, 2010 01:09 PM

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