Dear Siblings Poem by John Anderson

I climbed the narrow stairway to my room
Sat on my bed to read baseball cards
I could hear the sharp yells responding to each other, pitching at each other like a pendulum
Dirty laundry frosted the room
The cat tiptoed to a safe place

And on the walls were pictures of sports heroes
Battling for a team; beating fear
Downstairs were my parents, Dad bowing his head at the realization that he couldn't get through
Then hurling his fist into the wall
I sat there listening to doom breathing
The walls, room, the cat, parents

But amidst this pain was something spectacular
Siblings sitting on steps in the dark stairwell
Staring straight ahead
Talking softly with firm voices while perched on the tiny benches
My brother told old jokes
And my sisters didn't take sides
Parent's anger began falling on deafness
I thought to myself as I blankly gazed at my cards

About tomorrow