My sister is reading my memoir
I cringe at the very idea
I wrote my life as I saw it,
but will she see it the same?
Our childhood was fraught
with real war, petty squabbles
and older sister cruelty,
which she never admitted was true.
Later…
an email of apology
took the wind right out of my sails.
She remembered something
that I don’t recall -
from a bag of plums bought as a treat,
she gave me only the bad ones.
We Write Poems has a prompt to write a poem about how the past is reinvented through memory, through writing. I’m not sure that I have understood correctly, and the poem I have written is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. You will find the memoir in question here - there are four chapters and a post-war envoi.
I have also linked this to Open Link Night at the Poets’ Pub.
I liked this poem. I always root for the underdog. I’m glad your sister came around.
I’m technically an only child, but for six years I was raised with my cousins. I wonder how they remember those six years, which for me are mostly tinged with the black, red, and orange embers of Hell…not necessarily because of them, however.
But…an apology unexpected is a very good thing.Maybe it erases the taste of those plums?
-Nicole
If we wait long enough …
My brother and I remember different childhoods; I’m sure my boys will, being six years apart.
I’m glad she apologised, even if you don’t recall the incident.
ah, but there is no ONE truth ~ we all experience life through personal filters, so your memories are your truth and your sister’s are hers, don’t you think? i think this is a wonderful take on the prompt!
♥
I love your tone in your work, Viv!! I always feel that I’ve just been sitting and taking tea…chatting and watching things in nature grow and move in the dooryard. Always a pleasant visit.
Thank you, Hannah. That’s the great thing about blogging – you meet so many nice people who you’d love to drink tea with!
Your memoir definitely impacted her. I like your poem. It’s especially unique because its a poem about a memoir
A piquant little memory. Clearly the memoir packed a punch!
This is beautiful. I would be afraid to know what my older sister would think if I shared our memories of childhood. I’m not sure they would mesh.
Nicely expressed in just a few words, I had 3 girls, the first 2 only a year apart. They used to make the youngest one their errand girl.
Being one of (and the oldest) of six kids, and the only one crazy enough to chronicle his life and feelings on these digital pages, I could relate to this poem so much! I would be different for boys, I think, but your telling of this connection is so much more powerful!
memories from plums — taste and smell evoke powerful memories
I sure had fun reading. Funny how siblings remember different things in a common history. It’s hard to figure out who’s the reliable witness. Maybe we’re all unreliable.
This gave me food for thought. I think I’ll write my (younger) sister today.
I am both younger and older sister. Your poem reminds me of many things. I really don’t think it matters if we follow the prompt in any precise manner. The purpose is simply to write and you certainly did that and well. Thanks for this poignant and telling picture in words,
Elizabeth
It’s a touching poem… and pity she doesn’t remember the cruelty so she could make amends… I stopped by because I saw your blog on the Mindful Writing site… for small stones.
I’ve been writing my small stones on my blogspot blog.
http://positivekismet.blogspot.com/2013/01/musings-trust.html
Eliz
Coming right over.
so interesting how people see their childhood differently maybe even if they grew up together…surprising reply.. i can imagine how it took the wind right out of your sails
good for her – they do surprise us sometimes… my sister & i aren’t really at loggerheads, but we really do differ in how & what we remember of events
I like your poem Viv – and I think it’s going to be fascinating for you to compare your memories. What an incredible start you’ve made, pestilential child and all
I bet she regrets bringing it up! I have an older sis that would have done the same.
What a fabulous way to tell the tale of sisters and their ultimate reconciliation of petty sibling stuff. Terrific piece, Viv!
Oh, you caught the sister thing so well here.
Interesting. Your older sister admitting at last to her cruelty?
Absolutely – it left me with the task of thanking her and owning that I’d been a pestiferous child and probably deserved all I got.
pestiferous, hey?!
Lots of death tonight, yes being an older sister, but that’s only the surface of the poem, what your words speak of is something much, much deeper
When our father died, I surprised my brother by telling him I wanted to have our sister mentioned in the obituary….she was born between us as the middle child and he didn’t know about her. That was a surprise to him. ☺
I am an older sister by six years and you would think that my brother and I didn’t share the same experiences at time. Our parents were different during the years we lived with them alone,
I had years 1 to 6 as an only child and my brother had 12 to 18 as an only child. I mentioned a food memory…I remembered he liked pork chops, he said no, it was me…(it was about who gave pork chops to the other in a way we didn’t get in trouble).
We don’t communicate any more, but I’m sure if we did, many of our memories would be different.
Thanks for the post
mmm…i like this…i am glad she surprised you with her response…and the one thing she picked out as well…i wonder at how you younger siblings remember our childhood now as well…
I relate being an older sister.:)