Cherry Blossoms: For My Twin Sister

Cherry Blossoms: For My Twin Sister

You are lilies, a sunflower,
sweet like plum wine.
I am briars, autumn leaves,
a wild potato vine.
You attract, like cherry blossoms,
pilgrims to the shrine.
I am from the field and stream,
swamp and timberline.

I and the sky cry
when gray clouds cannot hold.
You bring me poetic days,
belief in blue and gold.
Thank you for your frequent laughter,
flowers farmed in spring,
every day I spend with you,
fond imaginings.

God blessed you as She pleased;
God blessed you divine–
She granted you the Sun
in a valentine.
God blessed me as She pleased;
God blessed me divine–
She granted me the Moon
in a storyline.

I am sanding rough-hewn edges
with bark of a prickly pine,
stabilizing thoughts and feelings
with a weathered mooring line.
The breath of cherry blossoms
mingles with yours and mine,
while we walk in spring showers
and sip a little sunshine.

Whispers of cherry blossoms
falling from the trees
make my eyes awry with tears,
pink flurries on a breeze.
We’ll bundle them and from the garden
we’ll carry them with ease.
We’ll bless our fallen blossoms
in all their varieties.

You are ever my womb-mate;
I am ever yours.
Like Persephone in her seasons,
I’m below, you’re above the orb.

God blessed you as She pleased;
God blessed you divine–
She granted you the Sun
in a valentine.
God blessed me as She pleased;
God blessed me divine–
She granted me the Moon
in a storyline.

Composed in April 2018 after a vacation in late March with Carole, my twin sister, who was visiting my home in Portland, Oregon, from hers in San Diego, California. We spent a day at the Portland Japanese Garden to see the cherry blossoms. During our time together, we talked about being twins, how alike and how different we are, the ebb and flow of our relationship over the years, cycles of life, and how grateful we are for each other.