Milēs
Milēs
in my head i paint a picture
of the girl who could always do the monkey bars/a picture of the
earthbound awestruck boy who watches as
his sister swings between jungle branches
over lava
lighter than laughter
i can close my eyes and see the finish line across seventh ave
the end of a race begun by the flashing red hand that screams
do not begin to cross
my big sister doesn't take no for an answer
her breathless joy is a middle finger to the neon crossing guard
who still blinks angrily as
her first foot hits the half-eroded crosswalk
Nowadays, my best friend who taught me
curse words and crying and cross-multiplication
carries keys to a Humvee and our name on her chest.
People thank her for her service
on the train ride home.
Nowadays, I'm scared of North Korea.
But she's always been a soldier,
even before she got paid for it.
She ducks low, plants her feet,
and grabs her shadows around the knees.
She tackles the unknown the ground and
comes up laughing.
I watch from the bench, scared to play.
Scared I'd lose.
Her voice warms my cheek
through the iPhone screen.
My eyes feel her absence, but
in my head i keep painting her picture
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