"One of the Ones I Love"

Sister, your hand stayed long in mine
upon that bench under the double Maples,
Heaven in your eyes.
Reminds me of that old faded photograph;
I was one, you were three
smiling under curls.
A chain-link fence on a city street;
thirty-third street in Astoria.
Ancient as it seems,
etched the moment in time;
your hand in mine.

I’m ‘one of the ones you love.’
A face your fading mind
still embraces.
Chubby little arms and legs
sticking out from sleeves and hems,
your lovely hand in mine.
Here and now
once before
forever then
in time.

RagMag Poems