Absence of a Sibling

Absence of a Sibling I always imagined you’d call me Want to spend time, Sunday dinner All meet up for a birthday, Christmas Just thought you’d pop in, child in arms Imagined all of us on a rowdy sofa Shaking with laughter, cries of joy Sometimes tears on a shoulder, pats On the back, celebrate the good times But then I changed all that Made a moment for me, selfish? Stopped the suffocation, took a breath Looked over the parapet, chanced When the deep understanding formed Realised no matter what, you’d never call I was wasting away a loveless life. Now and again, we pretend, nod and chuckle Forget the past and the absence. Avoid the truth, pretext a happy family But we’ll never have Sunday dinner With a Christmas cake or Easter bunny Be honest, will we? David Cox 07/10/22