Siblings, Cousins & Lullabies
Magic entered his heart as the world gave birth
Awakened in autumn, his laughter an
X-ray of life in miniature, blooming as summer drew near
And then
His sister suddenly appeared
All arms and smiles and screams and laughter’s madness
Illuminating his parents’ life and his own
“Love knows no boundaries” Grandma exclaimed
“Extra-terrestrially jelly belly” Grandpa hummed
Yelling joy into the world for all to hear
So then
My dear little ones with the elephant-beautiful ears
and the tiger-ferocious teeth on the prowl
protect each from the wimpy shadows in the garage slinking
stuck in the cobwebs and in the field’s cow dung
remember in this life
you two share a common heart
bright as fireflies in the dark
So quick run run run
Toward each other and don’t forget your bark
you are born for each other with your singing loud as the sun
stand right up to the microphone in the playground
belt out a tune or two
music enlarges the pair of you with all the rest
And now a cousin comes prancing
tip tap with precious paws, outlaws
the three of you dance each day
through the mud and swim across the ocean
on a turtle’s back and dangle a bit from a whale
and swing each night from a shrinking moon
I am here with you and for family together
love gave us life because of the three of you
song birds, red tigers and tiger cubs romping
in the grass
this green life with your tails waving in the Taiwan dew.
for my nephews and niece, Max, Hailey & Alex
