Then, there are those dreams
when you see your sister
and she’s still alive
and you sit across the table from her
and you want to explain to her
that the reason you’re wearing her earrings
is because it was a way to have her with you.
But here she is—
she’s across the table from you
she isn’t gone
so you sort of feel bad for having her earrings while she’s still here
but there was a reason you had the earrings
a bothersome, sad feeling
which becomes a slow washing over
a tiny river of realization
this odd knowing
this knowing
that she is both here and not here.
She is both dead yet alive.
Gone from this world, but very much present in your heart and mind.
These dream moments are too quick
too fleeting
and you don’t realize how precious they are
until you have left them
until you are awake
and alone
in your room
thinking of her
and her earrings
your sister
the love