29
Deviation Actions
Literature Text
Jacquie Lawson said it will send the card at 1am.
It never specified what time zone
Would reach 1am first. Hers or mine.
8am arrives, heralded by the sound
Of ascending harp chords from a phone.
Time to head to class.
Five hours later,
The champion sleeper awakens
As I break for lunch, thirsty from endless study.
I had left a message earlier on Skype,
But I’m not sure she received it.
I’ve left my phone on silent to not
Disturb my academic peers.
3pm GMT is 10am EST. This is when we connect.
Happy birthday, sister dear.
It’s a small celebration; it has to be.
Not because of illness or fear anymore
But since all our friends are scattered around,
Much like seagulls above the sea we both see
From our windows.
Her on the Western shore, me on the East,
We both observe her 29th summer starting.
And it was raining that very day.
Calm and quiet as Martha's Vineyard nights
The birthday was quiet and very well spent
Despite the sisters separated
By 5-6 hours time difference
But both respected each other in deference
The quiet rain for the birthday
Had swept the sadness out to sea
If only for that one little day
Would it be for longer who knows? Who can say?
Chocolate mousse bombe cake and Father Brown
And cauliflower crusted pizza topped with pineapple goat cheese and meatballs
Was how the girl spent her special day
Somewhere deep in Oak Bluffs town
Feeling like something was lifted off of her
If only for a little while
It gives her time to pause and reflect
Some things she and her sister had done and said.
Brava. And sorry for that little bit. I just felt a continuation of it slip out of me here.