Siblings Poem by ANJALI KAKATI

A bald little head,
Flat nose,
In between
A pair of
Rosy,
Chubby cheeks.
I remember,
Mom had held you to me
And said
“Your sister”

Holding my little finger,
Trotting about
In matching frocks,
We had played
“Train to katihar”

I remember,
You waited for me
Wide eyed,
For my return from school
To break in the share of
The precious
“Half a samosa.”

How I had hated you
Whence after a fight
Mom would lock us up
In the bathroom for hours

I remember
Your blackmailing me
Into days of slavery,
Just to hide from mom
My spilling ink on her favorite sheet
Or
breaking a cup from her crockery.

We had shared those sunny days
Lazing away in
Cocooned glory
And also the dark nights
Of gloom and agony.

I remember
We had swiped tears
For smiles on each others eyes
Darkness for
Colourful rainbows.

Today, we are fine women
As we stand
Separated by time
But
Entwined remain our lives
Like ever
For you will always remain
My sibling
“My sister”
The only one
In this whole world
Who shared
My dad,
My mom,
My life.